With the news that safety Stevie Brown indeed did tear his left ACL and is out for the season, the Giants at least can feel somewhat heartened that their other starting safety, Antrel Rolle, is on the way back from his sprained ankle.
Tom Coughlin on Sunday said Rolle – who did not play against the Colts or Jets after spraining his ankle in training camp – will return to practice this week. Without Brown, it will be up to Rolle to as quickly as possible develop chemistry with Ryan Mundy, the first-year Giant and former Steeler who moves into Brown’s vacated starting spot in the secondary.
“He has played well,’’ Coughlin said. “We’ve just got to get the people out there and get the right combination. Ryan has played well, he certainly has proven he can be physical and down in the box, that type of thing.’’
Coughlin expressed his eagerness to see rookie safety Cooper Taylor, a fifth-round pick. Taylor hasn’t played in any of the first three preseason games because of a strained hamstring. Taylor returned to practice late last week.
“We’ve got some other people we definitely want to see, we’re trying to get to the point where Cooper Taylor can play and we can take a good look at him,’’ Coughlin said.
Mundy steps in for Brown but it might have been second-year Will Hill getting the starting nod, if not for Hill’s impending four-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy.
“He’s been playing and playing well, he’s an outstanding special teams player and he’s very physical,’’ Coughlin said of Hill. “He’s played pretty well all the way along, the fact of the matter is we’re not gonna have him for four games while we acknowledge what he brings to the table we certainly can’t be lured into thinking we’re OK in any way, shape or form because he’s not gonna be here. And that’s a shame.’’
Another safety, third-year Tyler Sash, has been a special teams contributor and not much of a defensive player but Sash and the other reserves he will receive extensive playing time Thursday night in the preseason finale in New England.
“Quite frankly its really up to the production, the opportunity is certainly going to be there this Thursday night,’’ Coughlin said. “Those guys who have the chance, they know what’s in front of them the play time will be outstanding for them.
Other items from Coughlin’s Sunday’s conference call the day after a 24-21 overtime preseason loss to the Jets:
– Coughlin on the revamped offensive line: “We did well on occasion and not so well on others, that’s kind of the way it’s been.’’ Asked if any changes were forthcoming, he added “We’ll see. I wouldn’t say one way or the other.’’
– CB Jayron Hosley was forced out of the game against the Jets with a sprained ankle that looked serious but Coughlin said it is not. “He called the injury “what is not been determined as an ankle that will prevent him from working.’’
– Coughlin liked what he saw from Terrell Thomas, who played 23 snaps in his first game in two years. “We know he’s a football player, we’ve had a couple of serious injuries here and we have to make sure he is back as close to 100 percent as he can be, mentally and physically and if that’s the case we know we have an outstanding player. There’s no mystery to this.’’ Coughlin said there’s no plan to move Thomas to safety.
– Coughlin praised rookie RB Michael Cox for his work on kickoff returns, which likely means he’s got a roster spot all-but locked up.
– Josh Brown made field goals from 40, 33, 50 and 40 yards and missed a 53-yard attempt. “We had the long field goals, we continue to be impressed with Josh Brown and his kickoffs and his field goals as well,’’ Coughlin said. “Don’t always appreciate the fact we leave it up to a field goal rather than the touchdown, that’s something that’s got me scratching my head. Nevertheless we’ll look the positive side how much he has come through for us. That gives us real good confidence in that area going into the season.’’
– CB Corey Webster is expected to return to practice. He’s been out with hamstring and groin soreness.