Derrick Ward Named “NFC Offensive Player of the Week”

December 23, 2008 New York Giants Injury Report: The Giants held a jog-thru practice on Tuesday. Head Coach Tom Coughlin only commented on a few injured players yesterday:

• HB Brandon Jacobs (knee): “We are in a jog-thru mode today (on Tuesday),” said Coughlin. “He wouldn’t be practicing probably normally…I would expect that he will practice (later in the week).”

• DT Fred Robbins (shoulder) and WR Domenik Hixon (foot/ankle): “They came through the game and are in no worse shape,” said Coughlin. “Having played the game didn’t set them back.”

• CB Aaron Ross (concussion): “He is (out of the hospital),” said Coughlin. “As I said, he is going to be taking all of these tests to kind of see where he is.”

According to press reports, DT Barry Cofield (knee) and TE Kevin Boss (ankle) were riding the exercise bikes along with LB Gerris Wilkinson (knee) at the beginning of yesterday’s jog-thru. Ross was not present at the practice.

Derrick Ward Named “NFC Offensive Player of the Week”: HB Derrick Ward has been named the “NFC Offensive Player of the Week” for his performance against the Carolina Panthers last Sunday night. In the game, Ward gained 215 yards on 15 carries for a 14.3 yards per rush average. Ward’s 215 yards were the fourth-highest total in Giants history.

“It is an amazing feeling,” Ward said. “I never thought that I would be player of the week in the NFL. But everything happens for a reason. I am just thankful for my teammates, my coaching staff, my running backs coach Jerald Ingram – it is a good feeling.”

Ward is the first offensive player on the Giants to be named “Player of the Week” this season. DE Mathias Kiwanuka and CB Aaron Ross have won the award on the defensive side of the ball this season. So have LB Chase Blackburn and PK John Carney for special teams.

Article on Halfbacks Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward: Giants’ Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward on Verge of Free Agency by Ralph Vacchiano of The Daily News

Article on HB Brandon Jacobs: As Others Didn’t Quit on Him, Giants’ Jacobs Persevered and Excelled by Jere Longman of The New York Times

Article on the Giants’ Defense: New York Giants Address Problem: Long Touchdowns by Opponents by Mike Garafolo of The Star-Ledger

Notes: In the last 10 years, only one team – the 1999 Rams – has won the Super Bowl as the NFC’s top seed.