Steve Smith Faces Long Road Back; Giants Sign TE Jake Ballard to 53-Man Roster: As expected, the Giants placed WR Steve Smith (knee) on Injured Reserve yesterday, officially ending his season.
Smith will undergo mosaicplasty and some microfracture surgery on a non-weight bearing part of the knee to repair articular cartilage damage on Tuesday. He is expected to face 4-9 months off rehab after being on crutches for six weeks. The nature of the injury and the lengthy rehab might mean that Smith will not be ready to go by the time training camp starts next year.
“The doctor said that he expected him to make a full recovery,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. When Coughlin was asked if Smith will be able to recover in time for next season, Coughlin responded, “That is what I have been told. Non-weight bearing for a while and then progress very slowly, obviously. But hopefully if it all goes well, then what the doctor is projecting will be true…I’m sure there will be restrictions (when he first returns to practice).”
Smith is the 12th Giant to be placed on Injured Reserve this season, not counting S Chad Jones who is on the Non-Football Injury List.
The Giants also signed TE Jake Ballard to the 53-man roster. Ballard is a rookie free agent who has spent most of the season on the Giants’ Practice Squad and briefly on the 53-man roster this season in November.
Giants Sign Safety to the Practice Squad: The Giants signed S Ben Hannula to the Practice Squad yesterday. Hannula worked out for the Giants at their rookie mini-camp in May but was not signed. He played for the Hartford Colonials of the UFL this year.
Former Giants’ quarterback coach and current Colonials’ head coach Chris Palmer thinks Hannula has a future in the NFL. “I think he has a very, very bright future as a safety,” Palmer said in September. “He has the skills that will allow him to play at the next level…Once (NFL) teams see him on film, they’re going to like what they see.”
Injury Report: LB Michael Boley (shoulder) and WR Devin Thomas (hamstring) did not practice yesterday.
“(Boley) didn’t practice today,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “We think he will tomorrow.”
“It’s just a precaution,” Boley said. “It wasn’t anything major. It was kind of dinged up a little bit, and I’m sure I’ll be ready to go tomorrow.”
Practicing on a limited basis yesterday were WR Mario Manningham (hip flexor), RG Chris Snee (hip), OC Shaun O’Hara (foot), OL Shawn Andrews (back), DE Justin Tuck (abdomen), and DE Osi Umenyiora (knee).
“Manningham was just limited,” said Coughlin “Didn’t do much, to be honest with you. Did some.”
“(Snee) did some limited,” said Coughlin. “He moved around better.”
“Really just fighting through some soreness,” Snee said. “Everyone is nicked up and there’s one less day to recover.”
“(O’Hara) did more,” said Coughlin.
“Shawn (Andrews) is pretty much doing – we are calling it limited – but he does pretty much everything,” said Coughlin. “We are just trying to find out to what extent – where he is the next morning.”
S Antrel Rolle on WFAN: The audio of Wednesday’s interview of S Antrel Rolle on WFAN is available at CBSNewYork.com.
CB Corey Webster on WFAN: The audio of yesterday’s interview of CB Corey Webster on WFAN is available at CBSNewYork.com.
Article on QB Eli Manning: Eagles Ready to ‘Pick’ on Giants’ Manning by Bart Hubbuch of The New York Post
Article on the Giants’ Passing Game: Giants’ Receivers Need Ph.D.s in Route-Running by Aditi Kinkhabwala of The Wall Street Journal
