Ereck Flowers misses Giants practice with injury

EAST RUTHERFORD —Already short at the tackle position, Giants first-round pick Ereck Flowers sat out Monday's practice with a hip flexor injury.

Flowers is considered day to day.

Coach Tom Coughlin seemed to think it wasn't anything serious. 

"He doesn't seem to be bad," Coughlin said. "This morning he was sore and by the time I caught him in the meeting room he was [turning his hips]. Hopefully it's just a short amount of time [he's sidelined]."  

Flower originally hurt the hip several days back. He tried to play through the problem, before sitting out on Monday. Flowers was taking first and some second-team reps during practices as the Giants are trying to get him up to speed quickly. 

They need to. Starting left tackle Will Beatty tore his pectoral muscle in the spring and is out until at least mid-October. Flowers had taken all the first-team reps at left tackle the first three practices at Giants training camp. He spent Monday's workout with trainers on the side field, before joining the team during team drills. Flowers watched from the sideline with his helmet on and took mental reps. 

His replacement for the day was Justin Pugh. The former right tackle moved to left tackle on Monday. Adam Gettis stepped into Pugh's new position of left guard.
Pugh's practice at left tackle included a fist-throwing fight with defensive end Damontre Moore. 

The Giants offensive line can't afford for the injury to Flowers to be serious. They already have an entire first-team unit comprised of players that didn't man the position they are playing for them last year.

The Giants are counting heavily on Flowers, the No. 9 overall pick in the draft this season, maybe even more than they'd like. 

"He's a first-round draft choice," Coughlin said. "The left tackle from last year tore his pec. [Flowers] is out there trying to learn how to play. He's important."
And so is his health. 


(nj.com)