Giants Linebacker Jon Beason: 'I Feel Like I'm Really Close'

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- All the talk out of East Rutherford of late has been the Giants' shaky offense.

But if the defense is going to live up to expectations, Jon Beason is going to have to be as stellar as he was in 2013.

The 29-year-old linebacker broke his foot in June and missed Big Blue's first three preseason games. He won't play against the Jets on Friday and will likely miss the final preseason matchup against the Patriots.

That doesn't mean that the three-time Pro Bowler isn't eyeing the regular-season opener on September 8 against the Lions, however.

"I feel like I'm really close, but I have to go out and do it," Beason said on Monday. "I want to test it, that's gonna kinda confirm it for me."

The two-time All-Pro did not require surgery. He rested following the injury and has been rehabbing. The veteran knows how valuable the preseason is, but he still feels confident that he can play meaningful football without it.

"Going into it, to have the opportunity to play in the last couple of games was really a goal,'" Beason said. "That's really not my decision. They might say, 'Hey, it's not worth risking it to go out and play versus the Jets or go out and play versus the Patriots.' But you've had the opportunity, that's great. Or to be working back in practice, that's really good, really promising for the opener against the Lions.

"I don't know if I need the practice. It's good to kind of spin the wheels a little bit and get out there and get oiled up. I would love to have a full training camp and four dress rehearsals or five dress rehearsals, but unfortunately that's not going to be the case. Either way I expect to go out and be myself and play well and help my team win."

In 12 games for the Giants last season, Beason recorded 93 combined tackles and had an interception.

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories