At full speed
After practice, Engram aims to play Thursday
There is a chance Giants tight end Evan Engram can return from a sprained knee and play in Thursday night’s key NFC East game against the Eagles. Engram had a huge test to pass on Tuesday, assessing his knee by going full speed in practice.
“Just if I can be myself, play full speed and not try to nurse anything or not hold back, that’s going to be the full test,’’ Engram said before practice. “I have good confidence, I feel good, but today’s going to be the full test, mentally and physically.’’
Engram missed the past two games dealing with a sprained right medial collateral ligament, an injury that took place in Houston on Sept. 22 in the Giants’ lone victory of the season. He said the diagnosis he was given was two to four weeks. Thursday is 19 days after he was initially hurt. He started running last week and said the trainers “introduced cutting’’ late last week. He was able to practice on a limited basis, wearing a black brace on his right leg.
“I’m thankful and blessed it wasn’t any worse when it happened,’’ Engram said. “It is kinda a burden for it to be a Thursday night game, it kind of sneaks up on us, but it’s definitely a blessing just to be in the conversation of getting back on the field. Today’s gonna be the deciding factor on that.’’
If Engram is held out, he would get an additional 11 days to heal and get stronger, because the Giants do not take the field again un- til Oct. 22, a Monday night game at Atlanta. It sounds as if the Giants, who are 1-4 and fading fast, are not looking ahead, though, when it comes to Engram.
“I think you burn the ships on every game, so whoever can play plays, and then you reassess when the game’s over,’’ coach Pat Shurmur said. “Evan’s been out for a while. … We’re hopeful he’ll be ready to go.
“I think you get yourself in trouble and I don’t think it’s very genuine to tell your team we’re gonna worry more about down the road. Put all our focus on the game we’re gonna play, and all your urgency.’’
The Giants miss Engram’s passcatching ability, a skill none of the other tight ends on the roster possesses to his degree. Engram admitted his competitive nature will push to get him on the field to face the Eagles, but also acknowledged he must be able to run freely and that this is not the final game of the season.
“We still have a long season ahead of us and it is a big division game,’’ Engram said, “but definitely I want to have the whole season in hindsight as well. We have a lot of big games left, including this one, it’s a huge one.
“The trainers have been doing a good job and they’re gonna be smart with me. I haven’t felt rushed or anything and trying to force something that doesn’t need to be forced. But I am a competitor, it sucks these past two weeks, it’s been kinda sucky for me not to be out there with my guys.’’