Ailing Tuck may not play in opener

OK, this is getting ridiculous.

Here they are, two days away from their regular-season opener against the Redskins, and the Giants continue dealing with an unprecedented spate of injuries. If it wasn't already bad enough that six key defensive players were out with season-ending injuries, Pro Bowl end Justin Tuck, their most valuable player on defense, has a neck problem that could keep him out of Sunday's game.

And who knows how much longer?

Tuck suffered a stinger against the Jets on Aug. 27, brushing it off at the time and expressing confidence he'd be ready for the opener. "I'll be there," he said whenever anyone asked about his status.

But Thursday, when asked if he could offer a guarantee he'd be in the lineup, Tuck replied, ominously, "Definitely not."

Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell referenced Tuck's status Thursday by saying it would be "a bonus" to have him on Sunday. A bonus? Whoa.

"We're going to do what's best," Tuck said.

What's best might be to shut him down until the Giants are absolutely certain he is ready to return to the lineup. They can only hope that process won't last very long.

Tuck, 28, has been one of the NFL's most dependable defensive linemen since the 2007 season, when he helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII. He hasn't missed a game since then and has accumulated 39½ sacks. He even played through a torn labrum that required surgery in 2010.

But with a neck problem that hasn't completely settled down, and with teammate Mathias Kiwanuka, who missed most of last season with his own neck issues, telling Tuck to take his time before returning, there are major concerns about whether the bulwark of the Giants' defense will be ready to go Sunday.

It is the continuation of the most insidious preseason injury bug we've ever seen, on this team or any other. Consider: In the 40 days and 40 nights since the Giants opened training camp, they have seen 15 players go on season-ending injured reserve.

Among the victims: cornerbacks Terrell Thomas, Brian Witherspoon and Bruce Johnson, defensive tackle Marvin Austin and linebackers Jonathan Goff and Clint Sintim.

Not only that, but first-round cornerback Prince Amukamara suffered a fractured left foot on his second day of practice and required surgery. He's out until midseason. Osi Umenyiora is still not back after surgery last month to repair cartilage in his right knee, which means Jason Pierre-Paul and Dave Tollefson are the Giants' only healthy defensive ends.

And now Tuck.

Though he remains generally optimistic he'll soon get to the point where he can play -- perhaps Sunday -- there are no guarantees, especially with neck injuries. Just ask Peyton Manning, who yesterday underwent a third surgery on his neck and is out at least two months. Kiwanuka missed 13 games last season with a bulging disc in his neck. Former Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce walked off the practice field one day late in the 2009 season with what he thought was a minor neck problem. He never played another down in the NFL.

The Giants are sure to do the prudent thing with Tuck and will not allow him back on the field until he is physically ready. But after a summer-long siege of injuries, losing Tuck would be the biggest blow of all.