Giants' Backfield Takes Big Hit As Vereen Is Lost For The Season

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Giants' running game suddenly has big problems.

Coming off a bad loss and with the undefeated Vikings waiting for next Monday night's showdown in Minnesota, it's not the best time for the Giants to be hurting in the backfield.

But they are.

The team announced on Monday that running back Shane Vereen suffered a torn triceps against Washington on Sunday and will require season-ending surgery, a huge blow considering his versatility and with the status of starting tailback Rashad Jennings being up in the air due to his injured thumb.

Vereen, who is in his sixth season, had gotten off to a good start, piling up 147 yards, a 4.7-yard per carry average, eight receptions and 75 receiving yards in New York's first three games.

"Shane is a tremendous football player. We wish him a speedy recovery," head coach Ben McAdoo said Monday.

McAdoo told reporters he isn't sure when Vereen suffered the injury, but thinks he played with it "for a significant amount of time" during the Giants' 29-27 loss to the Redskins.

If Jennings can't go against the Vikings, the Giants will turn to the combination of Orleans Darkwa and Paul Perkins, assuming they don't pick up another running back this week.

Vereen, who played from 2011-'14 with the New England Patriots before signing a three-year contract with the Giants prior to the 2015 season, has 174 receptions and 2,907 all-purpose yards in his career. He will carry a nearly $5 million salary cap charge into next season.