Giants likely to use 2 new starting tackles
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and guard David Diehl hug after a touchdown pass to wide receiver Mario Manningham in the fourth quarter. (Nov. 6, 2011) Credit: AP
The Giants' offensive line could be going from "pathetic" to patchwork.
A week after Tom Coughlin maligned the blocking for the running game, he could be bringing his team into Monday's game at New Orleans with two new starting tackles. He already needs one.
The Giants have ruled Will Beatty out of the game after he had surgery to repair a detached retina Thursday. They most likely will have David Diehl, who has been playing guard, move one spot to his left to replace Beatty at left tackle. That would mean Kevin Boothe would start at guard. The Giants also practiced Thursday without Kareem McKenzie, who has a toe injury. It's unclear how significant that injury is.
Playing at the SuperDome, where communication already is difficult, and having two new sets of ears at the end of the line could be troubling.
Beatty's surgery is said to have gone well, but how long he'll be out likely will depend on how quickly he heals.
Tuck gets stepped on
Justin Tuck's season of misery continues. It was just last week that his name finally was erased from the injury report, the neck and groin injuries behind him. Then he had his foot stepped on in practice Nov. 17 and rolled an ankle. He played Sunday against the Eagles, but Thursday, Tuck sat out with ankle and shoulder injuries.
Giant stepsNeither RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) nor LB Michael Boley (hamstring) practiced, a sign both could miss another game . . . RB D.J. Ware (concussion) was cleared to return to practice and was limited . . . The Cowboys' win over the Dolphins Thursday dropped the Giants into second place in the NFC East, a half-game behind the Cowboys. The Giants play the Cowboys twice in the final four weeks of the season.
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