Giants starting C O’Hara out with ankle injury

[Tempest]

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)—Shaun O’Hara(notes) has always prided himself on his toughness. But the pain that has spread around the Giants’ starting center’s left ankle from Achilles’ tendinitis has finally ended his preseason.

 

After watching O’Hara battle through the pain from the start of training camp, doctors put the foot in a hard cast Thursday. Starting left guard Rich Seubert(notes) took O’Hara’s first-string practice snaps, and will start the team’s third preseason game Saturday in Baltimore.

 

“It’s just something I’ve been dealing with pretty much all through camp,” O’Hara said. “I’ve had some good days and I’ve had some bad days. It’s been something we’ve been kind of coping with and working through. It’s reached the point where we decided we need to just try to isolate it and give it some complete and total rest.”

 

O’Hara said he hoped this would enable him to start the regular season opener Sept. 12 against Carolina. But the reality is that the 11th-year veteran will have to deal with his condition throughout the season. Now tagged as his primary backup, Seubert will have to anticipate moving over a spot on a regular basis, even though he’s rarely played center in games.

 

Seubert did work a two-minute drill at center against Carolina in 2006, and has had some situational appearances at tight end. But he has built the vast majority of his resume at guard.

 

“Whatever they want me to do,” said Seubert, heading into his 10th season. “I’ve played center in practice ever since rookie year. I’ve always taken snaps. In this business, the more you can do the better off you’ll be. I feel comfortable at center.”

 

O’Hara’s injury actually presents an additional opportunity for Seubert to stay on the field. His starting job was believed endangered due to the battle at left tackle which starter David Diehl(notes) and second-year challenger Will Beatty are waging. Also, since the signing of former Eagles Pro Bowl guard Shawn Andrews(notes) last week, Seubert’s starting status has never been more tenuous.

 

But O’Hara’s potentially chronic condition has put Seubert on call. Fourth-year player Adam Koets(notes) took most of the center snaps last week, but currently stands third on the depth chart.

 

“You always have to be ready to play,” Seubert said. “We take our quarterback-center exchange and footwork seriously every day. That’s our job, to be ready.

 

“If you’re a guard, you might have to play center. We only dress seven guys for a game, so wherever you’re playing, you’d better have a couple of backups at center because what if two guys go down? You’ve got to know what everybody’s doing, so mindset-wise, you take the same mindset every week.”

 

Giants coach Tom Coughlin said Seubert will take the first 20 to 25 snaps, with Koets following him in. The rest of the starters, including quarterback Eli Manning(notes), are scheduled to play three quarters. Manning is making his return from the 12-stitch, Jets-inflicted gash that sidelined him for last week’s game against Pittsburgh.

 

O’Hara just hopes the rest works.

 

“We’ve been riding that roller coaster up and down of feeling good and then feeling bad,” O’Hara said. “Rather than risk doing that the entire season, if we can calm everything down and make significant improvement for the next two days, then hopefully it’s an afterthought once we get to Week 2.”

 

Notes: S Sha’reff Rashad(notes) returned to practice after missing time because of a concussion. … DT Jay Alford(notes) missed practice because of pain and swelling in his surgically-repaired left knee, but said he expects to play Saturday in Baltimore. … CB Terrell Thomas(notes) (calf) is doubtful. WR Sinorice Moss(notes) (groin) was declared out.

 

 

[Tempest]

Sounds like he's gonna be backup this season or just out altogether at this point.

[JMFP]

Shit.....thank God for Seubert.....and for Shawn Andrews signing.

[Allstarjim]

Wondering if this spells trouble for Koets making the 53 man roster... I would've thought that he was the primary backup.

[BlueInCanada]

O'Hara has been one of my favorite Giants, it would be a shame for him to end his career on an injury.

[Treehugger]

This is bad, bad news. I sure hope it doesn't restrict him all year.

[eagleEye]

This is bad, bad news. I sure hope it doesn't restrict him all year.

 

 

Its gonna. Theres no doubt about it.

[hlb37]

just add it to the list.

 

 

looking more and more like a repeat of last year.

 

Forget about cutting down to 53, we will be lucky if we can field 53 at this rate.

 

I fucking hate Jerry Palmieri.

[Sephiroth]

just add it to the list.

 

 

looking more and more like a repeat of last year.

 

Forget about cutting down to 53, we will be lucky if we can field 53 at this rate.

 

I fucking hate Jerry Palmieri.

 

Why is it that every year there's ONE injury that the entire team gets? This year it's the groin. A few years back it was the quad, then the hamstring. Is this guy just totally clueless?

[BlueInCanada]

Why is it that every year there's ONE injury that the entire team gets? This year it's the groin. A few years back it was the quad, then the hamstring. Is this guy just totally clueless?

 

You know although it does seem like every year the Giants are stricken with injuries, I've noticed the pattern across every NFL. Besides Sportswrath I do have forum accounts with a Redskins, Eagles, Bengals and Raiders websites which I go to from time to time mainly for a different perspective on the NFL plus some of my friends are fans of those teams and have accounts on them as well.

 

One thing I've noticed with all of them is they all seem to have injury problems every year, almost every day much like here there is news about how some player is hurt and is going to miss time. I think we like to over-react to it because obviously we are all Giants fans and want all 53 of our guys to be healthy and good to go. It just seems to be a common thing in the NFL that even before the first snap of the regular season teams are already beaten and bruised, with a player(s) on IR.

[CrazedDogs]

You know although it does seem like every year the Giants are stricken with injuries, I've noticed the pattern across every NFL. Besides Sportswrath I do have forum accounts with a Redskins, Eagles, Bengals and Raiders websites which I go to from time to time mainly for a different perspective on the NFL plus some of my friends are fans of those teams and have accounts on them as well.

 

One thing I've noticed with all of them is they all seem to have injury problems every year, almost every day much like here there is news about how some player is hurt and is going to miss time. I think we like to over-react to it because obviously we are all Giants fans and want all 53 of our guys to be healthy and good to go. It just seems to be a common thing in the NFL that even before the first snap of the regular season teams are already beaten and bruised, with a player(s) on IR.

 

You're right, thats the nature of the NFL.

 

Every team has injuries. The teams that do best tend to have the least injuries.

 

Right now, the Giants are really in pretty good shape in terms of injuries. There are some teams whose seasons are already over. As long as the Giants get out of preseason without losing anyone crucial for the year, I count that as a victory.

[hlb37]

 

Right now, the Giants are really in pretty good shape in terms of injuries.

 

 

 

I strongly disagree:

 

 

Hixon has already been waive

Sorgi may not be far behind him.

 

 

Ross has a planter fascia problem which is big trouble

Thomas is sidelined with a calf problem

M Johnson has a back injury

 

Snee has a leg problem

seubert broke his hand

O'Hara is in a cast

 

Jacobs is missing time with a neck injury

Ware is concussed

 

JPP -- Groin

Canty -- Groin

Alford -- Knee

 

Blacburn -- Knee

 

appologies to any other members of the "tub club" that I left off of this list

[Treehugger]

I think a lot of those are just training camp precautions for guys who already have a spot cemented. Ross and O'Hara are the big worries as they're likely to carry those issues all season. Alford could have a slow year coming back too.

[CrazedDogs]

I strongly disagree:

 

 

Hixon has already been waive

Sorgi may not be far behind him.

 

 

Ross has a planter fascia problem which is big trouble

Thomas is sidelined with a calf problem

M Johnson has a back injury

 

Snee has a leg problem

seubert broke his hand

O'Hara is in a cast

 

Jacobs is missing time with a neck injury

Ware is concussed

 

JPP -- Groin

Canty -- Groin

Alford -- Knee

 

Blacburn -- Knee

 

appologies to any other members of the "tub club" that I left off of this list

 

Sounds like almost every other team to me. Who's really gone for the year, Hixon and Blackburn? A lot of this other stuff can be nursed back to health as long as they're not rushed back into the lineup.

[CrazedDogs]

I think a lot of those are just training camp precautions for guys who already have a spot cemented. Ross and O'Hara are the big worries as they're likely to carry those issues all season. Alford could have a slow year coming back too.

 

Ross is the guy I'm most worried about. I'm wondering if they shouldn't just shut him down and ...I'm not sure, is there a surgery for his foot problem?

 

O'Hara is...well, he's good, but he's replaceable. Koets is pretty weak though... maybe I should be more worried about center.

 

Alford looked like he'd be good, but we have other guys at DT, its not the end of the world if he has to be brought along slowly.

 

I think you're right - these are mostly precautions. I just hope they take a long term view and bring these guys back when they're fully ready. Maybe the Giants drop an extra game or two early, I can live with that as long as the line-up is intact down the stretch.

[hlb37]

 

Ross is the guy I'm most worried about. I'm wondering if they shouldn't just shut him down and ...I'm not sure, is there a surgery for his foot problem?

 

 

The normal treatment for what he has, a partial tear and inflamation is rest and an ultra-sound guided cortisone injection to bath the specific location of thr problem.

 

The procedure is no big deal medically speaking. The pain can take a long time to go away though. I still have lingering problems with mine and I injured it 2 years ago.

[hlb37]

Sounds like almost every other team to me. Who's really gone for the year, Hixon and Blackburn? A lot of this other stuff can be nursed back to health as long as they're not rushed back into the lineup.

 

 

maybe so maybe not. Right now a LOT of guys are missing reps in practice and it definitely showed on the o-line and in the secondary last night. We played out of synch, out of position and generally like crap.

 

 

The one bright spot I took from last night was that Andrews looked pretty good. If Seubert has to slide down to center this could be huge because lets face it, Guy Wimper is not the answer.