Injury Report & Notes

Injury News:

• For the first time since 2005, LB Chase Blackburn (knee) will be inactive for a regular-season game.
• Giants not practicing today: DE Osi Umenyiora (knee), LB Phillip Dillard (hamstring), LB Chase Blackburn (knee), TE Kevin Boss (concussion) and OT Will Beatty (foot).
• DE Osi Umenyiora (knee) attempted to practice. “Osi came out here,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “He did have some swelling, so we sent him back inside.” Umenyiora and WR Hakeem Nicks (ankle) will be game-time decisions.
• WR Hakeem Nicks (ankle) said he took a few reps in each practice session and fully expects to play Sunday at Indianapolis.
• C Shaun O’Hara (ankle) participated in “probably half” of Friday’s practice, according to coach Tom Coughlin, who said O’Hara is “OK to go” against the Colts on Sunday.
• Coach Tom Coughlin on when OT Will Beatty (foot) will return: “I can tell you that it’s anywhere from four to six to eight weeks. He’s had outstanding endurance. He’s never been in the training room.”
• TE Kevin Boss (concussion) won’t play Sunday, but his symptoms are improving. “I believe the headaches are gone,” coach Tom Coughlin said. “I don’t think that there are any real symptoms right now.”
• OT Will Beatty has reported to the practice facility for the first time since undergoing foot surgery. He was on crutches and had a calf-high cast on his right leg. The timetable for his return has not been disclosed. Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said that LT Will Beatty’s foot injury doesn’t change the Giants’ offensive gameplan much because TE Bear Pascoe has moved up from the practice squad. Beatty has been used at tight end in short-yardage situations.
• CB Aaron Ross has his injured right foot heavily taped, but he is participating in team drills. CB Bruce Johnson (knee) returned after missing Thursday’s practice. Ross (foot) said he is ready for Sunday’s game after missing the season opener. If Ross plays, he’ll get his first action at cornerback since 2008. He was pressed into duty at safety last season.
• WR Hakeem Nicks (ankle) was in pads for practice but did not participate in drills during the segment that was open to the media.
• Coach Tom Coughlin said CB Bruce Johnson has a swollen knee and was held out of Thursday’s practice as a preventative measure. Coughlin said he probably could have practiced, but the medical staff wanted to play it safe.
• C Shaun O’Hara re-aggravated his ankle injury. Coach Tom Coughlin said the medical staff had him sit for the rest of Thursday’s practice.

Notes:

• Coach Tom Coughlin hopes that P Matt Dodge can find some consistency and be a factor Sunday at Indianapolis. “I’m just anxious to see him improve from last week,” Coughlin said. “In a dome, if he catches one, he can change the field position.”
• QB Peyton Manning on his former backup, Jim Sorgi, being with the Giants: “You just understand that they have guys on their team that may know certain things. I guess I’d just say be careful what you think you know.” The Texans rushed for 257 yards against Indianapolis, but Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride doesn’t think the Colts will make the same mistakes this Sunday. “Houston happened to hit it perfect,” Gilbride said. “If they played five times, I’d be shocked if that would happen again.”
• Coach Tom Coughlin desperately wants to improve the special teams coverage. “Obviously it’s been an area of focus, and we’ve practiced well,” he said. “Punt protection has been good. … I think we’ll be improved.”
• Special teams coordinator Tom Quinn is impressed with KR/PR Darius Reynaud. “He’s moved here, and he got thrown right in the fire,” Quinn said. “(Reynaud) did the kick returns, punt returns, played on the kickoff team as well. He’s been very solid for us.”
• Coach Tom Coughlin said that rookie DT Linval Joseph was disappointed to be inactive last Sunday. “You like it like that,” Coughlin said. “There is a lot of football for young Linval, and he does have a great attitude about practicing and trying to get better.”
• Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell was surpised that the Colts ran the ball only 10 times in Sunday’s loss to the Texans. Even though QB Peyton Manning had 57 pass attempts, Fewell said the Giants’ top defensive priority is still stopping the run. Fewell is fond of using many sub packages, but might struggle to do so Sunday if the Colts use their no-huddle offense. “I’m not sure if we’ll be able to do that or not,” Fewell said. “We’ll have a plan in place.”
• S Antrel Rolle, a converted cornerback, says he’s capable of playing nickelback against multiple-receiver formations. With CB Aaron Ross (foot) and CB Bruce Johnson (knee) battling injuries, Rolle could be asked to do that Sunday against Indianapolis.

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