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Jacobs Out, Cox To Start For Giants Against Vikes On Monday Night

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Michael Cox, Peyton Hillis, come on down!

The Giants (0-6) have had about a million things go wrong for them this season, including an inability to keep anyone in their backfield healthy.

First, Andre Brown was lost during the preseason with a broken leg. Then, a few weeks ago, David Wilson went down with a scary neck injury. While both are expected to return eventually, Big Blue is running out of time to get something going.

The Giants thought they had at least a temporary solution with the signing of former Giant Brandon Jacobs, but he will miss Monday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium due to a hamstring injury, according to various reports.

Jacobs looked like his old self against the Chicago Bears on Oct. 10, running 22 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the Giants' 27-21 loss, but he suffered the injury early last week, prompting New York to bring in Hillis and D.J. Ware for tryouts.

Hillis was signed on Wednesday and now will likely spell rookie Cox, who will be making his first professional start. Fullback John Conner could also see some work, according to reports.

Cox, a seventh-round pick out of UMass, has appeared in four games this season, returning two kicks for a combined 39 yards.

The Giants are Hillis' fifth team since being drafted in 2008 by Denver. He rushed for 1,177 yards in 2011 with Cleveland and played in 13 games for Kansas City in 2012. He was released by Tampa Bay on Sept. 21 after not playing in the Bucs' first two games.

Hillis, 27, has rushed for 2,470 yards, 4.1 yards per carry, and 21 TDs in his career. His power running style is similar to Jacobs' -- straight ahead and plodding.

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