Injury Report: Falcons Come As Wounded Birds In Sunday Clash With Giants
By Curt Macysyn
There were times last season that the injury report for the New York Giants read like a dime-store novel; one with a bad ending. This week the team finds itself in a unique position of having to make game-time decisions with too many healthy players at key positions. On the other hand, the Atlanta Falcons lost three offensive linemen on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, and they will have to put together a patchwork unit to face Big Blue at MetLife Stadium.
Jason Pierre-Paul, Mathias Kiwanuka, Robert Ayers, Jr. and Damontre Moore should licking their chops in anticipation of facing an offensive line that has almost completely turned over, since the beginning of the season. New York comes in with nine quarterback sacks on the season, and surely the defensive front four would like to turn up the pressure against quarterback Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Roddy White and company.
New York Giants
The New York Giants still list punter Steve Weatherford (ankle) as probable, despite the fact that he has played with the injury for the past three games. The team needs Weatherford to give them a great effort in the directional punting game in order to keep the rock away from return man extraordinaire Devin Hester. Rookie linebacker Devin Kennard (hamstring) was also injured against the Detroit Lions, and the Giants may not want to roll the dice in playing both Kennard and Jon Beason against Atlanta. Beason, who has been replaced in the middle by Jameel McClain, seems to be the more likely of the two to come back on Sunday.
The biggest story of the week has been: will this be the week that Odell Beckham, Jr. finally plays a game for the Giants? He seems close, but with an otherwise healthy roster, maybe Coughlin and company will keep the rookie speedster out one more week. Fans will get an answer on Sunday. If Beckham goes into the lineup, chances are that Corey Washington sits, especially with tight end Larry Donnell being a solid red zone threat. Preston Parker should remain the G-men's safety blanket in the punt return game.
Atlanta Falcons
Much of the distress centering around the Falcons offensive line woes will not show up on the injury report. Just this week, the team placed center Joe Hawley and tackle Lamar Holmes on injured reserve, thus ending their respective seasons. Peter Konz will fill in at center for Hawley, while Gabe Carimi will take Holmes spot at right tackle. Both players have NFL starting experience, but Carimi was also considered first-round bust in Chicago. One of the first orders of business when Lovie Smith took over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was to cut Carimi, who is reunited with his offensive line coach, Mike Tice, from Chicago.
Rookie Jake Matthews will man the left tackle position, and Jon Asamoah stays at right guard. Carimi feels comfortable with Asamoah next to him as they take on the G-men this weekend. "You definitely have to have a rhythm with the guy you’re working with. I’ve worked with Jon in training camp and I’ve worked with him just in practice for a few weeks. I have no problems with Jon next to me,” Carimi told D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution this week.
Offensive guard Justin Blalock (back) left the Minnesota game with a back injury and has not practiced this week. He has been ruled out of Sunday's contest by Atlanta head coach Mike Smith, which ends his streak of 102 consecutive games played. Harland Gunn, signed freshly off the practice squad gets the nod in place of Blalock.
Starting safety William Moore was placed on the injured reserve - designated for return list, and his place on the roster was taken by Sean Baker, who was signed this week off of the practice squad. Safety Kemal Ishmael will likely get the start in place of Moore, but he has been slowed by ankle injury. Maybe an ankle injury can slow down Devin Hester, because opposing teams have not. Hester practiced fully on Friday and will likely be a challenge for the Giants' special teams on Sunday.
Speaking of challenges, wide receiver Julio Jones shows up on the injury report nursing an ankle injury, Jones will put Big Blue's talented defensive secondary to the test with his speed and physicality, as he practiced fully on Friday.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Probable:
P Steve Weatherford (Ankle)
Questionable:
LB Jon Beason (Foot/Toe)
WR Odell Beckham, Jr. (Hamstring)
LB Devon Kennard (Hamstring)
Doubtful:
None
Out:
None
ATLANTA FALCONS
Probable:
WR Devin Hester (Ankle)
S Kemal Ishmael (Ankle)
WR Julio Jones (Ankle)
LP Prince Shembo (Knee)
Questionable:
None
Doubtful:
None
Out:
OG Justin Blalock (Back)
WR Harry Douglas (Foot)
For more Giants news and updates, visit Giants Central.
Curt Macysyn has been covering the New York Football Giants for the past two seasons for Examiner.com. Born and raised in northern New Jersey, Curt has followed and covered the New York Metropolitan sports scene for 35 years. He attended Seton Hall Prep School in South Orange, NJ and is a graduate of Rutgers University, New Brunswick. His work can be found on aExaminer.com.
