EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - The New York Giants appear to have lost their second left tackle in Shawn Andrews.
Andrews, the 335-pound starter the past three weeks as David Diehl recovers from a hip and hamstring injury, spent a second day in the hospital Friday for treatment of a chronic back condition that cost him the entire work week prior to the Eagles’ game last week. He is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against Jacksonville.
With the offensive line depleted by injuries _ both starting and backup centers Shaun O’Hara and Adam Koets are out as well _ the Giants are left with second-year player Will Beatty for left tackle.
Beatty, though, only just got back to playing in spot duty two games ago as an extra tight end after missing seven with a broken right foot. The Giants (6-4) now face a situation where the left side of the line, which also includes fill-in guard Kevin Boothe, may not get the necessary push to create a balanced ground game.
“Certainly, if you had your druthers, that wouldn’t be No. 1 on the hit parade,” offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. “Shawn Andrews performed tremendously well for us and was a big part of why we haven’t been sacked the last three weeks.”
The switch from the physical Andrews to a more finesse player in Beatty could put a further crimp in a running game that stumbled to just 61 yards vs. Philadelphia. But it should not hurt the pass protection, as the Jaguars (6-4) haven’t put up much of a rush this year.
“It’s not the way you’d like it, but it’s the way it is,” Gilbride said. “But we think we have enough ability and (Beatty) has enough ability that he can go out and compete and give the rest of the guys a chance to win the game.”
Coach Tom Coughlin indicated any rust on the 6-foot-6, 307-pound Beatty the past two weeks involved his timing more than anything. But the coach indicated that gap has narrowed.
“I think I’m getting back to being the athletic Will, the athleticism they want to see,” said Beatty, who broke his foot in the opener. “Every day, I’m getting faster in my abilities.”
The fact that the coaching staff kept Beatty off season-ending injured reserve indicated a hopeful timetable. For the tackle who played the right side as Kareem McKenzie’s injury replacement for four games last year, the long layoff had its benefits.
“Physically, the rest of my body is healthy,” Beatty said. “The nicks and the bruises the other people get during the season, I haven’t gotten them. I’m feeling good, so condition-wise, I don’t see any problem.”
Beatty prepared all week last week to start, only to have Andrews step in on gameday. This week, he can assume he’s starting.
“I’m excited,” he said. “It’s another opportunity to show what you can do on Sunday. It’s my job to let them know I appreciate them keeping me on the active roster and that I can come back from injury.”
It’s not an ideal situation, but the still-raw Beatty is the Giants’ only option right now.
“It’s your chance, it’s your opportunity, you’ve been clamoring for it and now it’s here,” Gilbride said. “We didn’t want it to happen under these circumstances, but it’s happened.”
NOTES: OL David Diehl (hip, hamstring), C Shaun O’Hara (foot), WR Steve Smith (pectoral), and WR Hakeem Nicks (leg) are listed as out for the Jacksonville game. KR Will Blackmon (chest), LB Gerris Wilkinson (hand), DE Justin Tuck (quad) and CB Aaron Ross (illness) are listed as probable. … Diehl ran on the sideline for the first time and O’Hara worked on the stationary bike and stairs. … Tuck returned to full practice.
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