When Will Beatty, the presumed starter at left tackle entering the season, was omitted from the Giants’ injury report on Wednesday, it seemed almost certain that he would reclaim his starting spot from veteran Sean Locklear.
Beatty played in the Giants’ Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but since his sore back limited him for most of the preseason, he was relegated to blocking-tight end duty in the jumbo formation.
Now that his back is better, it seemed only natural that Beatty would be back on the blind side in Week 2, right?
“There will be no change there unless I let you know,” coach Tom Coughlin said on Thursday.
Beatty told the press on Wednesday that he still splits reps between the starters and the backups, and while he made it seem like it was the next logical step toward resuming his starting role, Locklear doesn’t see it that way.
“I've been taking the majority of the reps with the ones, so I'm assuming I'm going to be the starter,” Locklear told CBSSports.com.
Whoever ends up starting against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday will have his work cut out. The Bucs defensive line looked tremendous in the Week 1 win over the Carolina Panthers, registering two of the team’s three sacks and holding running back DeAngelo Williams to -1 yards on six carries.
“They're good players,” Locklear said. “They're average in size, they're not overly big guys, but they do a lot of stuff.”
Is Marvin Austin ready to make his debut? Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said Austin (back) has mostly worked on the scout team when he has practiced, although he has gotten some work with the first and second team as well. In any case, Fewell admitted Austin is not “all the way” back, adding that it will be Coughlin’s decision whether he plays or not.
Austin -- who was listed as “limited” for Thursday’s practice -- said he’s still shooting for Sunday.
“That’s the plan,” he said. “I’m actually about to go get some cardio so I can be prepared to go out there and play fast.”
The biggest issue isn’t whether Austin can carry the load at defensive tackle. He hasn’t played in a meaningful game since 2009 (NCAA suspension in 2010 and a season-ending pectoral injury as a rookie in 2011) so all he can really offer is a breather for defensive tackles Linval Joseph, Rocky Bernard and Markus Kuhn.
“It would mean another guy, it would mean more rest, it would be good,” Joseph said. “Fresh legs.”
Defensive end Osi Umenyiora said Austin is a “talented player,” but admitted he doesn’t really know what to expect from him at this point, adding that it’s not Austin’s fault that he’s had to deal with so many injury issues.
Everyone was in pads on Thursday, but…: All of the Giants had pads on for Thursday’s practice, but defensive end Adewale Ojomo (hamstring) was listed as not having practiced.
Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks was limited, and said he “felt good” on his surgically repaired right foot.
“It was really good for him to be out here on the grass,” Coughlin said. “The fields are exceptional. He moved well, he moved well.”
Cornerback Prince Amukamara (ankle), Austin (back), center David Baas (hip), cornerback Michael Coe (hamstring) and linebacker Keith Rivers (hamstring) also were limited.
Coughlin said that Amukamara didn’t show any signs that would make him “think otherwise” about the second-year cornerbacks recovery from a high-ankle sprain.
Offensive tackle James Brewer (back) and running back Da’Rel Scott (knee) both fully participated Thursday.
Sunday’s special guest: Former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand will be on hand when the Buccaneers and Giants play at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, he told USA Today. LeGrand was left paralyzed after a game at MetLife stadium against Army in 2010. Then-Rutgers coach Greg Schiano was one of the witnesses of the unfortunate event, and he’ll be back on Sunday as the head coach of the Bucs.
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