With Victor Cruz set to miss the final two games, he becomes the fifth starting player on the Giants offense to go down and out for the season, joining linemen Chris Snee and David Baas, fullback Henry Hynoski and running back David Wilson. In addition, Andre Brown missed the first eight games and replacement starters Brandon Jacobs, Jim Cordle and Da’Rel Scott also landed on injured reserve.
That’s a ton of issues to overcome.
“That sounds like an excuse,’’ offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said on Thursday. “You don’t have to be too intelligent to figure that one out.’’
Gilbride has taken more heat from outside the organization than anyone for this dismal season. This week, head coach Tom Coughlin said he still supports his longtime assistant.
“I certainly appreciate it and that’s great,’’ Gilbride said. “I think they know that we’ve performed in a lot of games for 25 years, doing what we’ve done. All I care about is now. What are we doing now and the struggles that we have now. What can I do to help this team succeed, that’s my only focus.’’
The battered offensive line got a bit healthier, as left guard James Brewer (ankle) returned to practice but right guard David Diehl (knee) did not. Others who made it back to work: defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins (shin/quad), wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan (knee) and cornerback Terrell Thomas (knee). Those who sat out again: wide receiver Cruz (concussion/knee), running back Peyton Hillis (concussion), cornerback Trumaine McBride (groin), defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder) and safety Cooper Taylor (hamstring). … The Giants were shut out by the Seahawks, frustrating many defensive players. What about the coordinator? “There have been plenty of times when we didn’t play very good and our offense has bailed our [butt] out and I was loving on them and thanking them for that,’’ Perry Fewell said. “It’s a team game. We all work together. Some days we’re going to have good days and some days we’re going to have bad days.’’
It has come to this: There’s an over/under on how many interceptions Eli Manning will finish with this season. He already has matched his career-high with 25 and, according to Bovada, the over/under for Manning’s interceptions is 28. … Wide receiver Calvin Johnson (knee) did not practice Thursday for the Lions.