subject: Giants WR Steve Smith hurts pectoral in practice [print this page] Giants WR Steve Smith hurts pectoral in practice
Chicago Bears Jerseys onlineshop webeditor report:
Eli Manning(notes) may potentially need to manage the Dallas Cowboyswithout his security blanket.
Wide receiver Steve Smith, Manning's go-to person on 3rd down, was forced toleave practice on Thursday right after hurting a pectoral muscle.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin was not sure about both the magnitude of the injuryor regardless of whether it would maintain him outdoors of Sunday's match up versus the Cowboys (1-7).
"He experienced trouble driving his arm right after the injury, so he couldn'tcontinue," Coughlin said. "I don't have whatever to allow you understand about him untilthey do all the tests."
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Smith was not available within the locker place right after practice. Manning also hadnot talked to Smith and was uncertain about his availability while using weekend.
Smith, who fixed a franchise single-season record with 107 catches final year,has created 47 for 517 yards and three touchdowns this season. he's 2nd on theteam behind Hakeem Nicks(notes), that has 51, 653 and nine.
"We'll just stay on the gameplan until we pay attention to otherwise," Nicks said.
If Smith does not play, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride stated that theGiants would rotate game fans into Smith's spot, in accordance with what the route is orwhat they are asking in the receiver. that could give alot more actively playing time toMario Manningham(notes) and Ramses Barden(notes).
Not acquiring Smith would harm though.
"He's the most polished receiver we have," Gilbride said. "He's a person whohas really earned the respect of the defense to these kinds of a stage that so a lot of thethings they do are built to avoid him, knowning that is what has openedopportunities elsewhere."
In the Giants' 41-35 earn all through the Cowboys in Dallas on Oct. 25, Dallasplayed a two-deep zone and gave Smith person insurance coverage acquiring a protection helping outover the very best if perhaps Smith employed a double move, Gilbride said.
"I contemplate people, basically, have stated it's difficult to cover him one particular on oneinside, so individuals have committed other people, additional resources," Gilbridesaid.
The end result could be the schemes have both opened up the Giants' running match up orincreased chances while using others.
In the earn roughly Dallas, Nicks and Smith just about every caught nine passes for morethan a hundred yards. Nicks experienced two touchdowns and Smith one.
Manningham stated if Smith can't go, the subsequent person in line needs to be ready.
"Young game fans need to stage up, me and Hakeem need to stage up. It's time,"Manningham said. "It's part of football. We also have do what we need to perform andget a W' on Sunday. that is all that really matters. I really feel we could place anybodyin there, but Steve does particular things that other people can't do."
Smith is one particular of Manning's favored targets on 3rd down. He has 11third-down catches for an common of 8.1 yards and two touchdowns.
Barden, the 6-foot-6 second-year receiver, has noticed limited steps in fivegames, catching two passes for thirty yards. almost every one of his performs have been on specialteams.
"Week in, 1 week out, I test to prepare like i am steering to be an integral partof the offense," Barden said. "That's some stage I learned from him (Smith),Domenik (Hixon), and Hakeem. they are men who're professional and approachthe match up within a most professional matter. Everybody has to stage up. we'll fillin. we've men who could make plays."
