Dottino: Osi Umenyiora Returns To The Field For Giants

By Paul Dottino
» More Columns

The feet and legs appeared to be as quick as ever.

Defensive end Osi Umenyiora was practicing Monday for the first time this summer, having put a close to his contract dispute. He took a regular turn with the starters during their rotation, whether it be 7-on-7s, 11-on-11s or positional drills. And he received plenty of support from his teammates - so much that they cheered him on during a hot potato drill at the beginning of practice (Umenyiora finished second to rookie safety Tyler Sash).

Coach Tom Coughlin said he would have a conversation with Umenyiora later in the evening to make sure the lineman's head was in the right place so he could resume being a valuable asset to the team.

His presence already was being felt on the field. Umenyiora's return as the starting right end allows Jason Pierre-Paul (two sacks against Carolina) to flip-flop between both sides, providing relief to Umenyiora and left end Justin Tuck.

The return of Umenyiora also will help make new starting left tackle William Beatty into a better player. Beatty already boasted on his Twitter page after practice about how proud he was to have held his own against Umenyiora on several snaps.

Coughlin said it's possible Umenyiora would take some snaps in Monday's preseason home opener against Chicago.

NOTES: PK Lawrence Tynes (thigh bruise) said he may try to kick Wednesday or Thursday and hopes he's able to play against Chicago. Punters Matt Dodge and Steve Weatherford handled the kicking chores at practice and Coughlin listed Tynes as day-to-day and said he might bring in an emergency placekicker to fill in this week. ... Quarterback Sage Rosenfels (illness), defensive end Dave Tollefson (back), cornerback Prince Amukamara (foot), wide receiver Sam Giguere (groin) and defensive backs Jerrard Tarant (shoulder), Woodny Turenne (calf) and Joe Burnett (hamstring) did not work. ... Duke Calhoun was the star of practice, making two terrific catches. ... Fourth-string Ryan Perrilloux continues to fire laser-beam passes that impresses onlookers.

Have we seen the last of the Umenyiora saga this season? Sound off below...