Andre Brown will be out 4-6 weeks, according to a source, after breaking a bone in his left leg in Thursday night’s preseason loss to the Patriots.
Brown has a small crack near the plate that was inserted last December when Brown fractured his left fibula. That was a far more serious injury that required surgery. The Giants do not believe Brown needs surgery and were awaiting results of yesterday’s MRI exam to determine and announce a timeframe for his return.
The Giants can put Brown on injured reserve designated for return, meaning he would have to miss the first eight weeks of the season. A team can use that designation only one time in a season and so the Giants must weigh Brown’s worth vs. not having the IR designation if they need it for a star player who might get hurt. Players on the short-term IR do not count against the 53-man roster. Any such move cannot be made until Tuesday, after the final rosters are set today by 6 p.m.
There are a bunch of recognizable names available at running back but that doesn’t mean it’s an appealing list. A source said Brandon Jacobs is in shape and could be ready “whenever needed.’’ But the Giants haven’t made a call to their former punishing running back and aren’t expected to. Other former Giants, D.J. Ware and Kregg Lumpkin, are also unemployed, as are Cedric Benson, Michael Turner, Ryan Grant, Willis McGahee, Tim Hightower, Beanie Wells and Joseph Addai.
With a cast of unproven characters currently on the roster – Ryan Torain, Da’Rel Scott and rookie Michael Cox – expect the Giants to sign a running back with some NFL experience to offset the loss of Brown. No matter who is brought in, expect David Wilson to have the ball in his hands more often than the original plan, as the Giants will need him to provide the big plays and the small ones, to the outside and also up the middle.
“Most definitely, I run in between the tackles,’’ Wilson said. “Don’t get confused by my size, I’m a physical guy. I’m from the country. I grew up chopping wood and building houses with my dad. I’m well put together.
“I know I can do it. People just judge off my size, I’m looking forward to getting in there and getting those tough yards.’’