ALBANY — After Giants coach Tom Couglin said Will Beatty’s sore back was slowing him down, and the left tackle missed Friday’s practice to have it examined, concerns arose about his health and ability to handle the position. But despite not practicing yesterday either, Beatty — bemused by the media horde that greeted him — insisted the exam was routine and his back is fine.
“Back’s good. Everything’s good,” Beatty said. “Just a routine doctor’s check to make sure we’re still on the right path. I got an MRI [exam] just to make sure the healing process was going the way we need it to go, and then we’re going to move on. I feel good. I feel a lot better than before. It’s not [bad]. I’m standing upright, I’m walking fine, I’m smiling, so that’s a good thing.
“It’s just a routine check-up. We’re in camp, so every day you’re out there in practice. In order to go back to your check-up, you end up missing a day, then you come back to all of this media love.’’
Beatty was greeted by a host of media members, and asked how they were. But he was quickly surrounded by journalists with cameras and recorders, microphones and notepads, all wondering about his status, and that of his bad back. Beatty tried to assuage any fears.
“It wasn’t like I went down in practice or anything like that. It was, ‘You had a few practices. Let’s see how things are going,’ ” said Beatty, adding the visit to the doctor was planned and had been informed of it Thursday night.
“No, it was scheduled,” he said. “It was before I went into practice. ‘You’re going to go practice, we’re going to see how you’re feeling, then we’re going to take you back to the doctor.’ So, we’re going step-by-step. We’re not just throwing you into the fire, and see how things go.’’
Apparently the news was positive. Beatty said the Giants’ medical staff told him his recovery from a sciatic-nerve issue is still on pace. Coughlin said he was informed Beatty was actually ahead of schedule.
“Actually, the first report I got back was that it was better,’’ Coughlin said. “They thought that there was some improvement there.’’
It’s easy to see why the Giants are treating Beatty carefully. He’s playing the vital left tackle spot, and is the only question mark on their offensive line.
Beatty started 10 games last season before a suffering a season-ending detached retina. Then, after overdoing things in the weight room while trying to come back, his back injury kept him out of most of OTAs and minicamp, although he had not missed a day in training camp until Friday.
“[I have to] stay healthy,’’ said Beatty. “Make sure I’m not going overboard on anything in the weight room, making sure that I’m staying smart and keeping myself in top shape, making sure I’m eating healthy — which isn’t the best-tasting thing to do — to make sure I’m keeping my body fat down and not putting unwanted pressure on my back, and things like that.’’