Going from the physically unable to perform list directly into the Giants starting lineup? It could happen for offensive lineman Kevin Boothe.
Boothe hasn’t played at all this season after tearing a pectoral muscle back in the spring. He has practiced with the Giants for the past two weeks and yesterday was activated. He initially was expected to move into a backup role, but might be needed for much more, as he could be inserted in at left guard for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys.
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Boothe takes the place of offensive lineman Adam Koets, who was put on season-ending injured reserve after tearing his ACL in the fourth quarter in the Giants’ 41-7 victory over the Seahawks in Seattle last Sunday.
The Giants hope their starting center, Shaun O’Hara, is able to return after sitting out against the Seahawks with a mid-foot sprain suffered on Oct. 25. If O’Hara returns, he will start at center and Shawn Andrews will fill in for injured David Diehl at left tackle. There are certainly no guarantees that O’Hara is ready, and if he isn’t, Rich Seubert will have to again slide over from left guard to center and Boothe likely will have to move into the starting lineup at left guard.
Diehl has a partially torn hamstring and is thought to be out several weeks. His streak of 127 consecutive starts ends this weekend, but he’s aiming to make a quick return.
“It is muscular and it will take a little time to heal up a bit,” Diehl said on ESPN 1050. “My goal is to be back at Philadelphia next week.”
O’Hara yesterday said he’s “optimistic” about returning and knows the injuries on the line add to the urgency that he find a way to play.
“I don’t know what the prognosis is for this week,” O’Hara said on Sirius NFL Radio. “Obviously, with some other guys getting dinged I’m pushing even more to get back out there, but ultimately the doctors and trainers are going to decide what’s best for me and what’s best for the team.”
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Sinorice Moss
, out all season after surgery to repair a sports hernia, has played his last game for the Giants, as he was waived from the injured reserve list.
As a 2006 second-round draft pick, Moss never developed as anticipated. In four years, he managed just 39 catches for 421 yards and three touchdowns. The coaching staff appreciated Moss’ team-first attitude, but he never made a dent as an offensive threat or as a kick returner.
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The Giants over the weekend extended by two years the contracts of Koets and long-snapper Zak DeOssie
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Both are now signed through the 2012 season. DeOssie’s three-year deal is worth $3.3 million and includes a signing bonus of $542,000. Koets’ three-year deal is worth $3 million and includes a signing bonus of $360,000.
Koets signed the new contract the day before blowing out his knee.