New York Giants Defense Hit Hard By Injuries

Added on Aug 23, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

NFL

The New York Giants defense looked very good in a blowout win over the Chicago Bears on Monday night, but that impressive showing came at a cost. The team has been devastating by injuries to defensive players–and particularly in the secondary. Cornerbacks Terrell Thomas and Brian Witherspoon suffered season ending ACL tears, and now defensive tackle Marvin Austin has been lost for the year with a pectoral muscle tear.

Giants’ coach Tom Coughlin gave the grim news to reporters in a conference call on Tuesday:

“Obviously we are not in a great frame of mind today. I feel badly for these guys and for our team.”

Austin’s injury was the latest blow and Coughlin said that it was likely season ending:

“Yes, I think this one is.”

“Sometimes they (torn pectoral injuries) can be nurtured back to some kind of significance. But in his situation, playing where he plays and the degree of the injury — he got caught with his arm out to the side which is the way it happens so many times — the doctors decided that this requires surgery.”

In terms of on field leadership, the loss of Thomas could be the most significant blow:

“Terrell Thomas is in great shape, very confident, lost weight, looked faster than he ever has, was very spirited in practices and games and was really a rallying point and motivating factor for the defense.”

Witherspoon, meanwhile, explained how his injury occurred:

“I was doing well in training camp. For me to get an injury at this point in time when I had such a good opportunity to make this team, it is disappointing.”

“Just planted on a return, the last return and the knee just gave in.”

Coughlin said that despite the injuries the Giants’ defense will persevere:

“We will do the best we can do to gather as many players, quality players, at this point in time and try to get them in here for a workout and see where we are,” the coach said. “I think our guys will come rallying back. But some of the people that we have here, some of the people that we may be able to discover, if they can help us, that will be a big plus. I think our guys will continue to believe in themselves and certainly be disappointed in the news as we all are and maybe it will be an opportunity for somebody else.”