Big Blue Holding Its Breath With Jon Beason Injury

Some news and notes from the Giants’ organized team activity (OTA) today…

– Today marked the team’s ninth OTA, which is the second-to-last session before next week’s mandatory minicamp.  

– All wasn’t well for Big Blue, however, as star middle linebacker Jon Beason went down with an apparent foot injury. Beason, who signed a 3-year/$16.8 million deal this offseason to return to the Giants, limped off the field early in the session as he was running across the field to make a play. He taken back to the locker room via golf cart and then later to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York for more conclusive tests.    

– As of this posting, there’s no update on Beason. But at the time of the media’s question-answer session, neither head coach Tom Coughlin nor Beason seemed too concerned.  

– Coughlin: “It [Beason’s loss] would be very important because of the nature of the player, the man, the attitude, what he brings to the table [and] the leadership skills. So, yes, [Beason is] very important. But I don’t know about Beason. It’s a foot, it seemed. It looked like he hurt it when he was running across the field and felt something in the bottom of his foot … We’ll see [prognosis],” Coughlin said, adding he’d be surprised if Beason wasn’t made a defensive captain this season by his teammates, as only safety Antrel Rolle has as much pull in the locker room on that side of the ball. “Other guys will emerge [as team leaders], but the guys right now that are the obvious choices are Beason and Antrel. We have good examples in those spots and we’ll see how it works out. Obviously training camp time is different than spring OTAs, and anyone can ascend to leadership roles, but those are the two men that we already know [will be great leaders].” 

– Perhaps the best news at this time about Beason’s injury is that he was carted off on the back of the truck – a spot reserved for the more serious injuries. He rode shotgun to the locker room, as well as anyone else who got banged up today. 

– Beason did not speak with the media today, as he was whisked past the media en route to the hospital. But prior to being taken away for further tests, Beason said he simply “felt something” while running during the play.  

– Big Blue better hope he’ll be fine, because he was an immediate impact player last season after coming over from Carolina via an October trade to help a Giants’ defense was sagging in production following their 0-6 start.   

– The Giants used a rotation of linebackers to fill in the middle following Beason’s injury. Rookie Devan Kennard, veteran Mark Herzlich and the newly-acquired Jameel McClain all got reps.  

– Kellen Davis, Daniel Fells and Adrien Robinson all got in reps with the first team at tight end.  

– Charles Brown was working with the first-team offensive line at left tackle. Brandon Mosley stepped in for veteran Chris Snee at right guard, who’s still recovering from hip and elbow maladies.

– Rookie first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr. was on the sidelines working with trainers while his wide receiver position group went through their positional drills. Beckham, who is trying to recover from a hamstring injury, said he can run “and even dance” and is “pretty sure” he’ll be cleared to participate fully in next week’s mandatory minicamp.  

– Running back Peyton Hillis has been sidelined so far this OTA session with a muscle strain, but added the malady is not serious.

– Wideout Rueben Randle came up lame during the workout, but said despite the sensitive area which was affected, it wasn’t anything serious: “I got hit in the wrong area,” Randle said about his groin area. “A teammate tried to swat the ball and, well, you know, ouch.”  

– Jerrel Jernigan, who’s been a disappointment so far in his career as a slot receiver, said he’s working more as an outside receiver this spring.

– The Giants are not the type of team to ever be involved with the HBO “Hard Knocks” series, but one player with Big Blue ties will get his close-up – former tight end/fullback Bear Pascoe. The former do-everything player for the Giants, Pascoe is now in Atlanta where the Falcons will be the profiled team.