New York Giants need to replenish depth at wide receiver

The Giants’ receiving corps, once so deep that second-year wideout Ramses Barden could not get onto the game-day roster, is down to three healthy receivers. And Barden is not one of them.

The 6-foot-6 Barden suffered a torn ligament and a fracture in his left ankle during a three-catch, 34-yard outing in Sunday’s 33-20 loss to Dallas, and is done for the season.
With Steve Smith also expected to be out beyond this Sunday night’s game at Philadelphia, the Giants are left with Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks and undrafted, untested rookie Duke Calhoun. Kick returner Darius Reynaud can also play wide receiver, but he is still nursing a pulled hamstring.

The Giants (6-3) will likely bring in a veteran once  Barden becomes the team’s ninth player to go on injured reserve. Former Giant Derek Hagan is available, as is former Jet Laveranues Coles. Big Blue could also take a look at ex-training camp prospects Taye Biddle or Nyan Boateng.

Whatever the Giants do, injuries to receivers will make recovering from a penalty-filled, turnover-marred divisional loss that much harder.

“We’ve got to re-establish who we are,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “Sink our feet into the sand a little bit and come out swinging. We’ve got a lot of issues that have got to be straightened around.”

Including the task of refilling the depth at wide receiver.