Thursday, November 3, 2011

Giants Bradshaw Could Need Foot Surgery

The New York Giants already know they will head into Sunday's game against the New England Patriots without Ahmad Bradshaw—one of their most dangerous offensive weapons.  Now, the Giants are also in danger of losing their most valuable running back for the remainder of the season.

Bradshaw injured his foot last Sunday against the Miami Dolphins and, according to the the New York Daily News, is mulling season-ending surgery.

The Giants haven't provided full details about Bradshaw's injury but said the 5th-year veteran—who has had foot and ankle problems before— is thinking about having corrective surgery.

Both Bradshaw and Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks missed practice today.  Nicks is nursing a hamstring injury and looks doubtful for this Sunday's game.


At first glance, the Giants will use backup Brandon Jacobs as their primary running back.  Jacobs has  been ineffective so far this season and has grumbled about his lack of playing time over the past few weeks.  Last week, against the Dolphins, the 260-pound Jacobs totaled 10 yards on four carries.

Beyond that, the Giants can got to D.J. Ware (45 yards on 14 carries this season) and rookie Da'Rel Scott— who hasn't had a carry since the preseason ended but, in the last exhibition game against the same Patriots team, ran for 114 yards and a TD while returning a punt for another TD.  Expect to see a lot of Ware on passing downs.

The Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said Bradshaw was still "sore and swollen" on Wednesday.

The Newark Star-Ledger reported that unnamed sources said Bradshaw has a fractured foot but are unsure if he just aggravated an old injury.  The running back already had a screw inserted into the foot for an old fracture and tests on Thursday will determine whether or not there is a new break.

Bradshaw, meanwhile, told the source that he might be sidelined for only two weeks, however doubtful that looks.

Bradshaw's loss is huge blow to the Giants rushing offense.  He accounts for 60% of the carries—on a team that only has 440 total yards on the ground this season—and the team faces a brutal nine game schedule to close out the regular season.

Jacobs just returned from a knee injury himself after missing two games.  He has run 42 times for 126 yards this season and looks like a shell of the bruising back he once was.

The free-agent-to-be Jacobs had been yapping about his lack of playing time until this week when he vowed to turn his season around.

 Let's see if he can back it up.

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