January 20, 2012 New York Giants Injury Report

January 20, 2012 New York Giants Injury Report – Ballard and Baas Miss Practice; Nicks Added to Injury Report: TE Jake Ballard (knee) and OC David Baas (illness) missed practice yesterday. Ballard is officially listed as “questionable” for the game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday; Baas is “probable.”

Ballard partially tore his right posterior cruciate (PCL) ligament last month and missed the final two regular-season games. Press reports say Ballard received an injection on Thursday.

“They did a procedure (on Thursday) and there was a little swelling,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “It was not surgery.”

“I’m not concerned,” Ballard said. “I saw a doctor for a little bit last night and performed a procedure and I will be ready to go. They pulled me out to rest me for today.”

“(The recovery is) still pretty slow,” Ballard said. “Like I said, this PCL is not going to heal overnight. It’s usually about six, seven weeks before you really don’t feel it anymore. It’s only been about four maybe. Just playing football, if you land on it or anything, you can re-aggravate it. To really get healthy, you go about six, seven weeks without playing football. That’s not going to happen and I’ll be ready to go.”

The flu bug that hit QB Eli Manning earlier in the week apparently hit Baas yesterday.

HB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), WR Hakeem Nicks (ankle), DE Justin Tuck (shoulder), DE Osi Umenyiora (ankle/knee), LB Mark Herzlich (ankle), and CB Corey Webster (hamstring) practiced on a limited basis. All six players are listed as “probable” for the game.

“(Nicks) has a basketball ankle at times that he rolls and he did it this afternoon to a certain extent, but he doesn’t think it is going to be too bad,” said Coughlin.

“No, got no reason to be concerned about it,” said Nicks. “It’s an important game. I’ll put it out of my mind and won’t think about it…Just tape it up, wrap it up real good. I’ll be all right.”

QB Eli Manning (illness) fully practiced and is listed as “probable” for the game.

WFAN Interview with Head Coach Tom Coughlin: The audio of yesterday’s WFAN interview with Head Coach Tom Coughlin is available at CBSNewYork.com.

Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s Friday Press Conference: The transcript and video of yesterday’s press conference with Head Coach Tom Coughlin are available at Giants.com.

Giants.com Q&A With Head Coach Tom Coughlin: The transcript of this week’s Giants.com Q&A with Head Coach Tom Coughlin is available at Giants.com.

Player Media Q&As: Transcripts and video of yesterday’s media Q&A sessions with the following players are available at Giants.com:

• QB Eli Manning (Video)
• HB Ahmad Bradshaw (Video)
• WR Hakeem Nicks (Video)
• TE Jake Ballard (Video)
• DE Jason Pierre-Paul (Video)
• DT Chris Canty (Video)
• S Kenny Phillips (Video)

Player Interviews on WFAN: Audio of yesterday’s interviews with the following players is available at CBSNewYork.com:

• HB Ahmad Bradshaw (Audio)
• OG Kevin Boothe (Audio)
• DE Dave Tollefson (Audio)

Articles on Head Coach Tom Coughlin:

• Coughlin Cool, Confident Amid Storm by Ian O’Connor of ESPNNewYork.com
• Coach Recruits Patton for Inspiration by Steve Serby of The New York Post

Article on the Giants’ Wide Receivers: Giants Wideouts Have Game if Not Name by Jon Saraceno of USAToday.com

Article on the Giants’ Defensive Backs: Giants’ Defensive Backs Get It Together with the Help of Weekly Get-Togethers by Mike Garafolo of The Star-Ledger

Article on the Giants’ Rookie Class: Rookies Gain Playoff Experience by Dan Salomone of Giants.com

Article on QB Eli Manning: Developing Arm Strength Feet First by Sam Borden of The New York Times

Articles on S Antrel Rolle:

• Inside the Brain of Antrel Rolle by Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com
• Rolle Makes Giant Message Loud & Clear by Ebenezer Samuel of The Daily News

Article on General Manager Jerry Reese: The Incidental Masterpiece of Giants General Manager Jerry Reese by Greg Hanlon of CapitalNewYork.com