Defending Champs Beat Up… Again

Added on Sep 19, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

The New York Giants never seem to be very healthy, but it’s hardly slowed them down in recent years, what with those two Lombardi Trophies and all. On the heels of their second mid-week game of the young season, Big Blue will once again be shorthanded with three players ruled out and a few others listed as questionable.

The most significant injury is to running back Ahmad Bradshaw, who is nursing a sprained neck. Tom Coughlin had been vague on the severity of the sprain, but considering Bradshaw’s injury-prone history, it’s unlikely he will be rushed back into action before he’s fully healed.

In Bradshaw’s place will be third-year back Andre Brown, who looked good in relief last week with 71 yards and a touchdown. What role rookie David Wilson will play remains a mystery, but he appears to be firmly planted in Coughlin’s doghouse after his Week 1 fumble/crying incident.

Also on the mend are right tackle David Diehl and wide receiver Domenik Hixon, neither of whom will make the trip to Carolina. In addition, Hakeem Nicks is still dealing with an ailing foot and reserve cornerback Michael Coe has a bad hamstring. Each player could end up being game time decisions.

On the plus side, linebacker Keith Rivers and cornerback Prince Amukamara are both expected to return to the lineup, which should bolster a defense that has been exposed during the first two weeks, yielding 29 points per game and 260 yards through the air.

Bumps and bruises aside, quarterback Eli Manning remains a constant. Coming off a 510-yard effort versus Tampa Bay, the unflappable two-time Super Bowl MVP continues to play at an elite level and carry a wounded team on his back. And he’ll need to stay sharp with back-to-back road games at Carolina and Philadelphia, followed by a NFC Championship game rematch in San Francisco two weeks later.

Source: ESPN.com