Injury report:
LB Phillip Dillard (hamstring), CB Corey Webster (groin), LB Gerris Wilkinson (groin) and CB Aaron Ross (plantar fasciitis) aren’t practicing.
Returned to practice:
C Shaun O’Hara (Achilles), TE Travis Beckum (neck) and LB Chase Blackburn (knee) have returned from injury.
Notes:
Newly acquired QB Sage Rosenfels and WR/KR Darius Reynaud are practicing Monday.
Coach Tom Coughlin said KR/PR Darius Reynaud will be the top punt returner. But Coughlin did not guarantee the former Viking would handle the kick return duties. Reynaud is already one of the Giants’ most versatile players. He has experience at running back, wide receiver, kick returner, punt returner and as a gunner on special teams.
Coach Tom Coughlin said there aren’t any new developments with CB Corey Webster’s injured groin or Phillip Dillard’s injured hamstring. But the coach did say CB Aaron Ross’ foot is “getting better.” Coughlin doesn’t know when Ross will return to practice.
Coach Tom Coughlin is concerned about having only two tight ends on the roster, but he said, “There are two practice squad tight ends that are just an up/down away.” TE Bear Pascoe and TE Jake Ballard were signed to the practice squad Sunday. He said the bigger concern at the tight end is Travis Beckum’s health. Beckum, who is used primarily as a receiver and rarely blocks, had been dealing with a neck strain before returning to practice Monday.
LB Chase Blackburn (knee) was back at practice Monday, but didn’t feel 100 percent. “General soreness,” he said. “I got to go put some ice on it in a minute.” He plans on playing in the opener. “No doubt. That’s why I practiced today.”
CB Corey Webster (groin) didn’t practice Monday, but one teammate expects him to return soon. “I think Corey is feeling a lot better,” CB Terrell Thomas said. “There was no need to put him out there today. Hopefully, he can go Wednesday.”
LB Keith Bulluck is excited to challenge Carolina’s running game. “They have two 1,000-yard running backs,” he said. “It’s a great test. … The most important thing for a defense is to stop the run.” In 2009, Carolina rushed for 247 yards in the Giants Stadium finale.
C Shaun O’Hara (Achilles) returned to practice Monday. “Today felt good on a number of different level,” he said. “It’s just been frustrating. At one point it would feel like it was getting better and at one point it would take a different turn.”
QB Sage Rosenfels is relieved to be away from the Brett Favre saga. “You’re just happy to know what the situation is going to be,” he said. “Everything was sort of up in the air for really the whole time I was there.” Rosenfels received the playbook Saturday. He said: “There’s no excuse to not be ready,” he said. “I met with (quarterbacks) coach (Mike) Sullivan a little bit, and I’ve been trying to study as much as I can by myself.”
Upon making the Giants, rookie WR Duke Calhoun had his roommate, practice squad DB Seth Williams, cut off his dreadlocks. Calhoun, who had been growing his hair since the ninth grade, had as many as 10 teams interested in him after he went undrafted.
[via]