Giants will be cautious with Jameel McClain's neck injury

While the Giants deal with a number of injuries, the most ominous one seems to be the neck stinger that linebacker Jameel McClain suffered on Wednesday. McClain sat out Thursday's workout and Tom Coughlin said it will be "a while" before he returns.

What he did not add was "if he returns at all," but that could very well be the case as McClain's career would seem to be in some jeopardy.

The extent of the damage diagnosed in tests on his neck, McClain's history of neck issues, and the Giants' recent experience with such injuries combine to create the cautious approach, Coughlin said.

"I wouldn't even be able to guess on what they will do," Coughlin said of the medical team's timetable for a possible return.

McClain suffered a spinal cord contusion in 2012 when he was a member of the Ravens. He returned to football and played all 16 games for the Giants last year, his first with the team, with 14 starts and 116 tackles. He is considered a necessary insurance player for the Giants as he backs up Jon Beason, who has not played a full NFL season since 2010.

McClain sustained the injury on Wednesday when his left leg appeared to go numb on a running play and he fell to the ground without much of a block (rookie offensive lineman Bobby Hart was the closest player to him and barely touched him). McClain immediately called for help as he lay otherwise motionless on his back. Eventually he was able to get to his feet and walk off the field under his own power.

Last year running back David Wilson's football career was ended by a neck condition and injury. The Giants have also seen Mathias Kiwanuka and Antonio Pierce deal with similar injuries in recent years.

By Tom Rock

tom.rock@newsday.com@TomRock_Newsday

Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.