ALBANY — The loss of rookie running back Andre Brown — who went down late in Friday night’s practice with a season-ending ruptured Achilles’ tendon — opens the door for another first-year player, Allen Patrick, a speedster from Oklahoma.
“Yeah, I feel like it’s an opportunity knocking, it helped me better my chances, but at the same time that’s one of our teammates we lost the other day,” Patrick said yesterday.
If the Giants keep four running backs (in addition to fullback Madison Hedgecock), Patrick’s chances just improved. Brown, a fourth-round pick from North Carolina State, was going to make the team. Patrick, the back who replaced Adrian Peterson at Oklahoma, was slowed by an ankle injury with the Sooners and has already been signed and waived by the Ravens and Browns.
“I’m probably one of the fastest backs we got. I try to use that to my ability to go out there and contribute to the team,” Patrick said.
Brown was injured with only a few plays remaining in Friday night’s practice as he jumped to try to catch a pass from Andre Woodson. Linebacker Gerris Wilkinson was covering Brown on the play.
“I heard him scream,” Wilkinson said. “I heard a click — I thought it was him clicking his own heel. As soon as he hit the ground, he started screaming.”
Tom Coughlin said Brown, “Reminded me of some backs we’ve had around here, who can drop their shoulder and move the pile a little bit. It’s just a sad, sad thing when you lose a player in practice.”
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WR Steve Smith (knee) will not play in tomorrow night’s preseason opener against the Panthers. He said he’s ready to return to practice. Others who won’t play include DT Fred Robbins, DT Chris Canty, CB Corey Webster and CB Aaron Ross.