Pugh pain may mean Hart start
AS IF injuries haven’t decimated the Giants enough, top offensive lineman Justin Pugh did not practice at all on Wednesday due to a back issue that began nagging him in Week 6 in Denver. And if Pugh is unable to play on Sunday afternoon when the Giants (1-6) host the L.A. Rams (5-2) — and Pugh’s status is touch-and-go at this point — that would thrust Bobby Hart back into the starting right tackle spot. Hart has struggled in limited action this season when not sidelined by a bad ankle sprain sustained in Week 1 in Dallas.
It also would make the Giants’ sixth different starting offensive line in eight games, with starting center Weston Richburg (concussion) still not practicing and presumably out a fourth straight game.
Pugh started the season at left guard and moved to right tackle early in a Week 2 loss to Detroit to replace the then-injured Hart. Hart returned in Week 5 against the Chargers but struggled badly, and the Giants move d Pugh back out to right tackle for their first win in Denver, where his back first acted up.
Pugh couldn’t make it through the Giants’ Week 7 loss to Seattle, leaving the game in the third quarter. He was here for Monday’s first light practice back from the bye but still seemed unsure of his Week 9 status.
“My back was locking up on me (in Week 7) so I went in and tried to get it to calm down. I couldn’t get it to calm down in the Seattle game,” Pugh said Monday. “It was bothering me going into it. So hopefully this week, it will be good. Having the week off was definitely helpful so (I’ll) just go from there.”
The Giants did get RB Paul Perkins (ribs) back to full practice participation on Wednesday, but slot receiver Sterling Shepard (ankle) was limited as he strives to play for the first time since his Week 5 injury.
Tight end Rhett Ellison was absent and not listed on the injury report but the Giants said he was not there due to a personal reason and that his wife is expecting.
COUNTED OUT
Jerry Reese said last week that since the Giants have nine games remaining “don’t count us yet.” But Vegas has counted the Giants out. Boy, have the bookies ever counted the Giants out.
From Bovada: The Giants are off the board on bets to win the NFC East; 200-to-1 to win the conference ahead of the one team off the board, the winless San Francisco 49ers; and 500-to-1 to win the Super Bowl, tied with the Jets and Indianapolis Colts ahead of the two teams off the board, the 49ers and winless Cleveland Browns.