DETROIT – The Giants did not get out of their preseason opening 13-10 loss to the Lions unscathed, because rookie linebacker Jonathan Goff fractured his transverse process (an injury to the vertebra) in the second quarter.
Depending on the placement and severity of the injury, Goff could be gone for weeks, months or for the entire season. The transverse process is a protrusion extending out from either side of the vertebra, attached to spinal muscles. A fifth-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt, Goff was going to make the roster as a special teams contributor and had been working at middle and strong side linebacker.
It appears the injury is to Goff’s lower back, which was wrapped tightly following the game.
In the second half, rookie defensive ends Robert Henderson and Wallace Gilberry went out with ankle injuries.
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Giants co-owner John Mara said he was not shocked when the Jets traded for Brett Favre. Not after a recent conversation Mara had with Jets owner Woody Johnson.
“I made a couple of comments recently to Woody, kidding him about it, and he didn’t respond at all,” Mara said last night. “That led me to believe they were thinking about it. Otherwise he would have denied it. I think it will be good for them, and if it lets us fly under the radar, I’m fine with that.”
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WR Brandon London led the Giants with three catches for 46 yards and attracted praise from coach Tom Coughlin. . . . RB Reuben Droughns lost a fumble. . . . Rookie S Kenny Phillips led the team with eight tackles, playing only in the second half. . . . DT Barry Cofield cut down his body fat in order to become quicker and looked that way with two first-quarter tackles. . . . WR Domenik Hixon (2-23) started in place of Plaxico Burress (ankle).