Giants lose linebacker Jon Beason with foot injury; hopes to be ready by opener

Call it the offseason curse of the linebacker, whatever you want, but yet another high-profile 'backer has gone down in offseason (non-contact) training with a serious injury.

Following the season-ending injuries to the Dallas Cowboys' Sean Lee and the Atlanta Falcons' Sean Weatherspoon, the New York Giants' Jon Beason suffered a foot injury that could keep him on the shelf until September, as first reported by NFL.com's Kimberly Jones.

The Giants later confirmed the news. Suddenly, Beason is in serious doubt to play in the Monday night opener on Sept. 8 — which is just past the 12-week mark — at the Detroit Lions, but Beason said he remains hopeful he can return for that game.

“The [opener] is within that time frame,” Beason said. “I expect to be back [for that game]. If not, I’ll be back as soon as I can. That’s really how you have to look at it. If it’s not 16 (games played), maybe it’s 15 or 14. Whatever it is, you want it to be that number as opposed to one."

In the meantime, the Giants must have plans to replace Beason and must identify three starting linebackers in case he's out. Jameel McClain, Mark Herzlich and fifth-round pick Devon Kennard all could get reps at middle linebacker, and/or on the strong side, too. Spencer Paysinger will vie for a starting spot, as will Jacquian Williams. But the point is that there suddenly will be a wide-open competition for playing time — at all three spots.

Beason joined the team following an early-season trade from the Carolina Panthers a year ago and instantly established himself as a leader in the Giants' locker room. He returned this offseason and, despite a history of injuries, figured to be a key figure on the defense.

The surgeon performing the procedure on Beason's foot, Dr. Robert Anderson, is considered one of the most respected foot experts in sports medicine and has repaired Beason before — his season-ending Achilles injury back in 2011.


(sports.yahoo.com)