With so many players stacked up in front of him, it didn’t seem likely that Chase Blackburn would find his way back into the starting lineup, but he did.
He’ll line up at weak-side linebacker for the Giants for Sunday’s season-opener against the Redskins.
The one-game suspension served by Michael Boley and uninspiring play in the preseason from Bryan Kehl and Gerris Wilkinson brought the Giants back to Blackburn, who started eight games last season on the weak side but is a natural middle linebacker.
“I always thought it was a possibility, I didn’t know it would happen, but I was always ready,” Blackburn said. “I feel confident in my abilities and what I can do over there. Hey, I get a chance to play, what’s wrong with that?”
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The Giants are holding out hope that CB Kevin Dockery (hamstring) will be able to play. He sat out practice again yesterday but did participate in the jog-through beforehand.
CB Aaron Ross (hamstring) is out. Ross last week had platelet-rich plasma therapy, the same procedure that was helpful to DT Chris Canty‘s healing process, but he’s not yet ready to practice, much less play. If Dockery isn’t available, Bruce Johnson — a rookie free agent out of Miami — will be forced into action as the nickel back.
“First big regular-season game he might be a little overwhelmed early on,” defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan said, “but once he gets in there, [it] won’t be an issue because he’s got good talent.”
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Last year the Giants elected five team captains. This year, it’s three and they were voted in unanimously: Offense: Eli Manning. Defense: Antonio Pierce. Special teams: Jeff Feagles.
“You’re voted by your peers,” said Pierce, who endured a difficult offseason because of his involvement in the Plaxico Burress shooting mess. “It’s not the coaches, it’s not the front office, it’s not the fans. It’s the 53 guys in this locker room and those are probably the most important guys to me. They know the real Antonio Pierce. It’s a great honor.”
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Remember when DE Osi Umenyiora last week skipped out of practice after a disagreement with Sheridan? “It was so completely over-inflated, it’s laughable,” Sheridan said. “There was no issue in any way, shape or form. We laugh about it.”