Aug 142014
 
Will Beatty, New York Giants (November 10, 2013)

Will Beatty – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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Throughout the New York Giants training camp, offensive tackle Will Beatty has done just about everything one can expect.

He’s attended every meeting, been a full participant in all individual drills and with the starters during team drills. By just about every count, he’s shown little side effects from a fractured leg suffered during the last game of the 2013 season.

In fact, the only thing Beatty hasn’t done is play in either of the Giants first two preseason games. And that’s about to change.

This coming Saturday when the Giants travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts, it looks like Beatty will see his first game action of the season.

“I’ve been looking forward to this moment,” Beatty said. “I’m blessed to be in this position. The coaches feel I have proved myself in practice enough to allow me to play in this preseason game and to travel with them.

“I am traveling. So traveling means I will have a chance and an opportunity to be out there on the filed. I’m looking forward to it.”

And so are the Giants.

In Beatty’s absence, former New Orleans Saints second-round pick Charles Brown has been filling in. Despite being highly coveted out of USC just four years ago, Brown has struggled in the NFL. During the Giants training camp, that hasn’t changed.

Defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul and Damontre Moore have had extreme success versus Brown during the team-oriented portions of practice. Versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Giants preseason home opener on Saturday, Brown was beaten for a sack by Jarvis Jones. A few series later, Brown allowed a pressure off the edge which caused quarterback Ryan Nassib to rush a throw.

A healthy Will Beatty will be welcomed back with open arms by quarterback Eli Manning, coach Tom Coughlin and others within the organization. That’s a ‘healthy’ Will Beatty.

The 29-year-old, who signed a five-year contract worth $38.75 million last offseason, admits his injured right leg is not the same as it was before it was fractured, but it’s getting there. There’s no chance of him being re-injuring it, it’s completely healed. Beatty just needs to get more comfortable.

But there won’t be much of an acclimation period. This Saturday, he’ll be facing off against Colts defensive end Robert Mathis. Last season, Mathis recorded 19.5 sacks, went to the Pro Bowl for the sixth time and earned his first All-Pro honors.

“I know he’s going to look at it as a regular season game each snap he gets,” Beatty said. “This is my marker for how well I’ve trained during the offseason to recover and get back to top shape.”

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Connor Hughes/BBI

Connor Hughes has been working in both the broadcasting and journalism fields for the last seven years. His work has been heard on WMCX, WBZC and Lenape District Television, while read on the pages of The Star-Ledger and The Burlington County Times. Connor can be reached via email ([email protected]) or on twitter (@Connor_J_Hughes)

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