Ahmad Bradshaw never will say he is carrying too much of a load in the Giants running game, but his body may have chimed in about the subject, as he missed two days of practice this week with a sore foot. That’s what 57 combined rushing attempts in back-to-back games will do to a player dealing with surgically repaired feet.
It figures Bradshaw won’t be quite the workhorse today against the Redskins, as Andre Brown returns after missing one game with a concussion. In consecutive games earlier this season, Brown accounted for 33 carries, 184 rushing yards and three touchdowns to earn additional playing time, and is expected to be reintroduced to the offense this afternoon.
“If we’re rushing the ball good and they want to run the ball 40 times, I hope I get 20,” Brown said. “However they divide up the carries. And you know what coach said, whoever has the hot hand. If they want to let Ahmad go, let him. I’m still a team player first.”
* DT Chris Canty is back on the active roster and will make his 2012 regular-season debut today.
Canty was activated off the reserve/physically unable to perform list yesterday. As required for those on PUP, Canty missed the first six games and then was allowed to begin practicing this past week. He participated in practice every day, coach Tom Coughlin raved about the shape Canty was in and it was determined his surgically repaired knee is healed enough to return.
To make room on the roster, little-used running back Da’Rel Scott was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Scott this week underwent minor knee surgery.
Canty will be There’s no doubt Canty is not ready for full-time action but the Giants deemed him ready to contribute in a limited role. Given that he plays defensive tackle, he will be able to be mixed into the rotation, where Linval Joseph is an established starter and rookie Markus Kuhn has been starting in place of veteran Rocky Bernard, who will miss his third consecutive game with a quad injury.
* Through six games, the Giants and Redskins have scored the same amount of points, 178. The Giants have given up 59 fewer points. … In many ways the Giants are fortunate to be 2-1 at home this season considering in each game, they at one time trailed by 14 points. … Asked to pick his poison on wanting to see Robert Griffin III pass the ball or throw it, defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said, “I want him on the bench. That’s what I would pick.’’
* Last season, his first with the Redskins, DT Barry Cofield enjoyed a 2-0 series sweep of his former team and admits the second victory was unexpected. The Giants were trying to surge to the playoffs and the Redskins were in last place, but Washington won 23-10. “It was a weird feel, I don’t know how to really describe it,’’ Cofield said. “Things were clicking for us and [the Giants] seemed out of rhythm the whole game, I don’t know what the reasoning was behind it but I was happy it went that way. It was a strange day.’’
* The Redskins will once again be without WR Pierre Garcon, who has a foot injury. Expected to be the team’s top receiver, Garcon has missed three of the first six games. … With LB Jacquian Williams (knee) out, Keith Rivers will see increased time. Rivers played extensively in the Giants’ season opener but since then missed three of the next five games with hamstring issues. The only other reserve defensive tackle, second-year Marvin Austin, remains a work in progress.