Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
In a quick turnaround week, the New York Giants will host the dangerous Arizona Cardinals in East Rutherford for the 2014 MetLife Stadium opener. As the Giants look to avoid planting the seeds for another extended early season losing streak, the Cardinals have been installed as a two-point road favorite. The post-Friday practice injury report is as follows, as per Giants.com:
| NEW YORK GIANTS | |||||
| Player | Injury | Wed. | Thu. | Fri. | Game Status |
| WR Odell Beckham Jr. | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
| T James Brewer | Back | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
| LB Devon Kennard | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
| DT Markus Kuhn | Ankle | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
| P Steve Weatherford | Ankle | DNP | DNP | LP | Questionable |
| LB Jon Beason | Foot | LP | DNP | LP | Probable |
| DT Cullen Jenkins | Hip | DNP | LP | LP | Probable |
| T Charles Brown | Shoulder | LP | LP | LP | Probable |
| DE Jason Pierre-Paul | Neck | FP | FP | DNP | Probable |
| ARIZONA CARDINALS | |||||
| Player | Injury | Wed. | Thu. | Fri. | Game Status |
| RB Andre Ellington | Foot | DNP | DNP | LP | Questionable |
| LB Alex Okafor | Thigh | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
| DT Frostee Rucker | Calf | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
| G Paul Fanaika | Knee | LP | LP | FP | Probable |
| QB Carson Palmer | Right Shoulder | LP | LP | LP | Questionable |
| P Dave Zastudil | Left Groin | LP | LP | LP | Questionable |
| S Rashad Johnson | Ankle | LP | FP | FP | Probable |
Well, it took rookie Devon Kennard a whole two snaps to get injured Monday night at Ford Field. It’s a good thing Jon Beason possesses exceptional healing powers, because Kennard has already been ruled out of action while nursing a hamstring issue.
The Giants brought in potential punter replacements to the practice facility on Friday, but Steve Weatherford is now expected to hold down the job despite four ligament tears in his ankle (let, non-kicking ankle).
"“The diagnosis wasn’t great but it wasn’t… I’m an optimist. It could have been a lot worse,” Weatherford said. “It could have been a knee and it could have been season-ending, so for me I’m looking at the bright side and am very optimistic and hopeful that I’ll be out there to join my family on Sunday.”"
On the Cardinals front, QB Carson Palmer and RB Andre Ellington are officially listed as “questionable”, but both will be in the starting lineup come Sunday at 1 PM. 36-year old OLB, John Abraham, has been suffering with memory loss and has left the team. Retirement seems to be on the horizon for Abraham.