Nat Berhe re-injures calf after returning to Giants practice
New York Giants safety Nat Berhe walks off the field at the end of practice during training camp at East Rutherford, N.J. on Aug. 11, 2014. Credit: Newsday / Joe Epstein
Giants second-year safety Nat Berhe re-injured his calf after just one day of full participation in practice, Tom Coughlin said on Thursday.
That put Berhe back to square one with an injury that has lingered since the spring. Even with a dearth of healthy safeties, Berhe could be a candidate for injured reserve when the team trims its roster to 75 players on Monday.
"He re-injured his calf, that's all I can tell you," Coughlin said. "He had one day of practice, felt really good, came out here and had the same occurrence that happened the last time. So, he's re-injured."
Berhe came into the spring expecting to compete for a starting job at safety. He was unable to practice in the spring and for most of training camp, though. When Bennett Jackson tore his ACL in last weekend's preseason game against the Jaguars, it was the same day Berhe was cleared for full participation in practices and it seemed his return would be just in time to help a depleted depth chart. Instead, his injury now adds to the problems.
Coughlin did say rookie safety Landon Collins, a projected starter, will play against the Jets on Saturday after missing a week with a knee injury. He'll likely be limited.
That leaves Brandon Meriweather and Jeromy Miles as the starters and undrafted rookies Justin Halley and C.J. Conway as the backups.
Cornerback Prince Amukamara said he likes having Meriweather behind him, even if he still learning the system after signing last week.
"A guy like Meriweather, he's a for-sure legit true vet and he definitely takes ownership of the defense," Amukamara said. "We'll see how we play together."
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.
