NFL

Giants would sorely miss injured Boley

Giants coach Tom Coughlin does not necessarily agree with Justin Tuck’s assessment that linebacker Michael Boley is the defense’s most indispensable player.

“Michael’s very important to us, he’s our middle ’backer, he communicates, he’s played very, very well and we want to get him back as fast as we possibly can,’’ Coughlin said yesterday. “It’s not about any one individual. Someone now is going to have to step up — and he can’t go and perform the duties he had — and try to help us win a game.’’

There’s a good chance the Giants will have to find a way without Boley for Sunday’s game against the Eagles. Coughlin said Boley’s injured hamstring is a “day to day,’’ but that doesn’t mean he will be back any day. Boley could not return in the second half of Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the 49ers ,and hamstrings do not heal overnight and usually not in one week.

UPDATES FROM OUR GIANTS BLOG

Coughlin did offer a hint as to what the Giants are thinking when he said, “The guys that are going to play will have an entire week of practicing. The practice week is the most important thing.’’

There is little chance of Boley practicing much or at all this week.

Safety Kenny Phillips said Boley is “basically the voice of the defense, plus he’s a playmaker.’’ Without Boley in the second half against the 49ers, Phillips said: “It was definitely a big loss for us. We had to throw some young guys into positions they weren’t necessarily ready for.’’

* Cornerback Aaron Ross has a left quad contusion and is also day-to-day. Ross’ injury did not seem to be as severe as Boley’s. … Running back Ahmad Bradshaw has missed the past two games with a stress fracture in his foot and there are no promises he will be given any sort of workload this week. “We’ll see, there’s no sense speculating, he’s going to have to go out and practice,’’ Coughlin said. “He certainly has had a couple of good solid weeks of rest and hopefully he’ll be able to do some things. Probably won’t know until we get him out there.’’

* Fifth-year cornerback Derrick Martin was called for three penalties on special teams and should probably take this as a warning: “You can either do it the way it’s supposed to be done or you’re not going to play,’’ Coughlin said. … David Akers executed a perfect onside kick for the 49ers and although he said he alerted the players about the possibility, Coughlin admitted, “We let our guard down a little bit. I take responsibility for it.’’

* Tight end Jake Ballard could not break free of linebacker Patrick Willis on the fateful final fourth-down Eli Manning pass to Victor Cruz that was batted down at the line of scrimmage. “I think it’s safe to say that was defensive holding,’’ Coughlin said.