The Giants finally broke through and won a game, coming back to edge the Cowboys 37-34 on Sunday night even though their defense continues to have all sorts of issues, especially with what seems to be weekly horrible breakdowns in coverage that lead to gift-wrapped touchdowns for the opponent.
Tom Coughlin on Monday said the defensive lapses are “tremendous, grave concern’’ moving forward as the Giants try to secure themselves the NFC East title.
There is a chance the Giants will get at least one of their two injured defensive starters back for the next game, against the Redskins at MetLife Stadium. Safety Kenny Phillips missed the victory at Cowboys Stadium with a strained medial collateral ligament in his knee, and defensive end Osi Umenyiora has missed the past two games with a sprained ankle.
Coughlin, asked about the possibility of getting Phillips and Umenyiora back this week, said, “We’re going to have to wait and see. You get excited and then you get a report and it’s not quite as positive as you thought it might be.’’
Phillips was able to do some running last week so perhaps he has a chance to return, although MCL sprains usually take a minimum of two weeks to heal.
As for Umenyiora, a source with knowledge of his health said “not really’’ when asked if there’s a chance he plays against the Redskins.
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Tight end Jake Ballard came up big down the stretch against the Cowboys, catching an 8-yard touchdown pass with 3:14 remaining to pull the Giants within 34-29. He came out of the game with a wrist injury, although X-rays for any break came back negative. Coughlin said Ballard is “going to be OK.’’
Tight end Travis Beckum was forced out with an injury to his upper chest area, Coughlin said the issue is with Beckum’s clavicle, or collarbone. “We’re going to have to see if he can play through some of the soreness,’’ Coughlin said.
Left tackle David Diehl needed X-ray of his hand, a problem he’s been dealing with. “He keeps hanging in there and pounding away,’’ said Coughlin, who added Diehl might miss some practice time but “He’ll definitely be ready to go’’ for the next game.
Coughlin gave no medical update on center David Baas, who missed his second straight game after exprriencing intense headaches, other than to say Baas is “the same kind of thing” as Phillips and Umenyiora.