Giants Claim Madison Hedgecock Off of Waivers; Waive Robert Douglas

September 13, 2007 New York Giants Injury Report: The injury status for the following players is as follows:

QB Eli Manning (shoulder): Manning did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday.

Thursday’s Daily News reported that a source told the paper that the Giants’ team physician initially told Manning that he would miss 3-4 weeks. According to the source, the team doctor diagnosed Manning with a second-degree sprain of his right shoulder and that an orthopedic specialist in Alabama concurred.

On the other hand, an unnamed player told The Star-Ledger that Manning was throwing 50-yard passes on the sidelines of practice yesterday. “I wouldn’t say he was throwing ‘lightly,'” said the player. “He was throwing pretty far.”

Another unidentified source told the paper, “(Eli) sounded pretty good and optimistic. I think he is of the mind-set that if everything goes how he thinks it will over the next couple of days that he will play.”

The official word from the Giants continues to be that Manning is “day-to-day” and Head Coach Tom Coughlin indicated that Manning’s availability Sunday against the Packers would be a game-time decision.

“He is getting better,” said Coughlin yesterday. “It is encouraging. He is doing a little bit more on the side. He didn’t take snaps or anything. He did some center-quarterback exchange on the side. He will be better and it is encouraging each day…That’s all I have to say. He has to get better. The doctors have to clear him…I don’t know (when he will play). ”

“I’m feeling better,” said Manning. “Better than I did on Monday and Tuesday. So that is the good news. I’m improving but still have some work to do…We’ll just make a decision the next couple of days – hopefully I can keep improving and get better. If I feel I can make all of the throws and help out this team and put us in a situation to win, then I will play.”

When the press asked Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride who would be playing quarterback on Sunday, he responded by saying, “I was going to ask you that question. I have no idea…You are getting about as much information as I am getting. We don’t speak to the doctors; we don’t speak to the trainers, so all we do is listen to what he tells us. I know he has been throwing lightly and that is about it. I have no idea.”

HB Brandon Jacobs (knee): Jacobs did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday and has already been officially ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Packers.

DE Osi Umenyiora (knee): Umenyiora did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday.

PK Lawrence Tynes (calf): Tynes did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday. “He is scheduled to kick (on Friday),” said Coughlin.

FS Gibril Wilson (quad): Wilson was limited in practice on Thursday.

CB Kevin Dockery (ankle): Dockery did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday.

WR David Tyree (wrist): Tyree did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday and has already been officially ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Packers.

LB Gerris Wilkinson (knee): Wilkinson was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. “I’m pretty good to go right now,” Wilkinson said. “I’m just trying to get my feet back under me. I’ve been out for so long.”

Giants Claim Madison Hedgecock Off of Waivers; Waive FB Robert Douglas: On Wednesday, the Giants claimed FB Madison Hedgecock off of waivers from the Rams. Hedgecock was waived by the Rams on Wednesday.

Hedgecock was drafted in the 7th round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Rams. In his three years with the Rams, Hedgecock played in all 33 games, with 16 starts. In 2006, he started nine games, caught seven passes for 29 yards and made nine special teams tackles. In college at North Carolina, Hedgecock played both fullback (as a freshman and senior) and defensive end (as a sophomore and junior).

To make room for Hedgecock, the Giants waived FB Robert Douglas. Douglas injured his knee in the preseason and recently underwent arthroscopic surgery.

Giants Place DT William Joseph on Injured Reserve: On Tuesday, the Giants placed DT William Joseph on Injured Reserve with a back injury.

Giants Make Four Practice Squad Moves: On Tuesday, the Giants released OG Matt Lentz and TE Jake Nordin from the Practice Squad.

In their place, the Giants added HB Quentin Smith and TE Jerome Collins.

Smith was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Rice University after the 2007 NFL Draft. The Patriots waived him on September 2nd. Against the Giants in the preseason finale, Smith rushed for 46 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

Collins was drafted by the Rams in the 5th round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played in three games for the Rams in 2005, but the Rams released him before the 2006 season. In 2006, Collins spent time on the Cowboys’ Practice Squad before the Colts signed him to their active roster. Collins did not play in a single game for the Colts and ruptured his Achilles tendon in practice in December and was placed on Injured Reserve. The Colts waived him in February 2007.

Article on the Giants’ Defense: Giant Defense Still Favre from Good by Tim Smith of The New York Daily News

Notes: According to The Star-Ledger, HB Ahmad Bradshaw took some snaps with the first-team offense yesterday.

The Ledger also surprisingly reports that newly acquired FB Madison Hedgecock took most of the snaps at fullback and may play on Sunday against the Packers.