G-Men hoping to dodge bullet on Beckham injury
Just like with Sterling Shepard three weeks ago in practice, the Giants appear to have dodged disaster with their other two starting receivers.
Injuries to Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall in the Giants’ preseason loss to the Browns on Monday night are nothing serious, head coach Ben McAdoo hinted Tuesday afternoon on a conference call with reporters.
Beckham underwent an MRI on Tuesday, which confirmed he suffered a sprained ankle. And X-rays on Marshall’s sore shoulder came back negative.
“We just have to see how these two guys respond to treatment,” McAdoo said. “We had them in here for a treatment session, and we’ll take it day-by-day.”
Beckham, the only player in NFL history with at least 90 receptions, 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns in each of his first three seasons, absorbed a blow to the knee from Browns cornerback Briean BoddyCalhoun, who dove to make a tackle during Beckham’s 18-yard catch early in the second quarter.
Beckham grimaced when his left leg bent awkwardly, and ESPN’s broadcast captured him dropping to his knees in the tunnel on the way back to the locker room. But Beckham expressed relief after the game that “it feels like a rolled ankle.”
Marshall, the 6-foot-5 target who signed with the Giants in the offseason after two seasons with the Jets, took a hit from safety Jabrill Peppers to his shoulder after pulling up on an overthrown pass from Eli Manning.
Marshall played 26 offensive snaps against the Browns after playing only two snaps in the preseason opener. Beckham, meanwhile, played 14 snaps Monday after sitting out against the Steelers.
McAdoo was noncommittal Tuesday on the availability of either player for Saturday’s game against the Jets at MetLife Stadium. Given the short period of time until that contest and the preseason finale against the Patriots on Aug. 31, it would be safe for fans to assume they won’t see Beckham or Marshall again until the regular season begins Sept. 10.
“If you have a chance to put everyone out there playing together you do it,” McAdoo said. “If you don’t, you don’t. That’s a medical decision.”
Wide receiver Tavarres King and cornerback Michael Hunter were also injured during Monday night’s game. King left after reaggravating the same ankle he previously injured in practice, McAdoo said. He added that Hunter is currently in the concussion protocol.
The Giants, who finished the game with just six healthy receivers, also have injuries to Dwayne Harris (upper body), Darius Powe (hamstring) and Andrew Turzilli (hamstring).
The other players who missed the game with injuries were starting cornerback Eli Apple, running back Shaun Draughn and linebackers Mark Herzlich, J.T. Thomas and Keenan Robinson. McAdoo would not say for sure if any will return to practice this week.
“We’re taking a look at that right now,” McAdoo said. “Nothing is set in stone at this point, but we look to get a couple guys back, even if it is in limited fashion.”
BOWIE’S LEGAL STATUS
Giants offensive lineman Michael Bowie turned himself in to the Tulsa County Jail on Monday after being charged with assault and battery in Oklahoma.
McAdoo said Tuesday that he is still awaiting word from the team’s investigation into the situation.
“The other side of the
building is still working through the details of it, still trying to get as much information as they can at this point and they’re going to keep me posted as we go,” he said.
Tulsa County Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Elmore told the Tulsa World that earlier in the summer, Bowie grabbed his girlfriend by the neck during a fight at her home in Bixby. Elmore said Bowie also broke two televisions and punched a hole in the wall.
The 25-year-old Bowie, a Tulsa native, is also charged with misdemeanor domestic assault and battery and two counts of malicious injury or destruction of property.
Jail records show Bowie was released Monday on $17,000 bond. His agent says Bowie is working to prove his innocence, claiming there was no physical contact with the girlfriend.
Asked whether he expects Bowie to practice with the Giants on Wednesday, McAdoo said “I don’t expect anything” until he receives more information from the team’s front office.