Shuffle Coming To O-Line After Giants Blindsided By Beatty Injury

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — New York Giants starting left tackle Will Beatty is going to be sidelined up to six months after tearing a pectoral muscle, the team announced on Thursday.

The Giants said Beatty was injured lifting weights on Tuesday and the recovery time frame is 5 to 6 months. He had surgery on Wednesday night.

Agent Alan Herman told the Post that it was a "clean tear," which would be good news for Beatty's rehab schedule.

"The fact it happened 24 hours ago, that the tissue itself was of excellent quality and that we got a very solid repair is in his favor," Beatty's surgeon, Dr. Frank Cordasco, told the newspaper. "What I told him and members of the organization is that I would be hopeful he would be back in early, mid-November. That still gives him a good solid end of the season to contribute to the organization."

If Beatty were sidelined six months, he would miss the Giants' first 10 regular-season games, through the Patriots game on Nov. 15. The team has a bye the following week and resumes play on Nov. 29 against the Redskins.

Beatty, who is scheduled to make $5.5 million this season under a contract that runs through 2017, has started at left tackle for the Giants since the 2011 season. He started all 16 games last season despite sustaining a broken leg late in the 2013 season.

Now someone else will have to protect quarterback Eli Manning's blind side.

The Giants have depth at tackle. They drafted Ereck Flowers of Miami in the first round and have right tackle Justin Pugh returning. Geoff Schwartz also can play tackle. The team had trouble running the ball last season and it was hoped that Flowers might be able to play right tackle so Pugh could move inside to guard. With the injury to Beatty, line coach Pat Flaherty is going to have to juggle his unit.

"Ereck Flowers is a big dude," Schwartz told 104.5 The Team in Albany. "He is strong. We lifted together. He is a strong kid that I look forward to seeing.

"He's a quiet guy kind of feeling his way in. I get it, I remember being a rookie. It's tough, especially since I was a seventh-round pick, he's the ninth pick overall. But it's nice to have those guys in and start working with them and try to get them acclimated to the group. I'm excited to kind of see them in camp with the pads on."

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