Ogletree: ‘Stings’ to be injured on a meaningless play

Alec Ogletree injured his hamstring on a play that never officially happened.

There was no way the Giants linebacker could have known that in the moment Sunday, though, when he heard his teammates yelling at him to pick up a loose ball and he did as told. Ogletree started to run with the ball, not hearing any whistles, before he got pushed down by Jabrill Peppers.

Upon further review, the ball was on the ground because of an incompletion by Jameis Winston and was not a fumble. But the lack of clarity led to Ogletree’s injury on the potential fumble return, which ended his day early and has his availability for Sunday’s game against the Redskins in doubt.

“That’s pretty terrible,” Ogletree said Thursday. “It definitely sucks to get hurt on a play… to get hurt, period. But when it doesn’t count for anything, it definitely stings a little bit more.”

Ogletree has yet to practice this week, relegated to riding the bike on Thursday instead of preparing to face Washington. He has been rehabbing his hamstring, but is unsure of a timeline for his return.

Janoris Jenkins was gashed by Mike Evans on Sunday, allowing the Buccaneers receiver to rack up 190 yards and three touchdowns. Evans’ final catch, a 44-yard completion with less than a minute to go, nearly ruined the Giants’ day before Matt Gay took Jenkins off the hook when his field goal sailed wide.

But defensive coordinator James Bettcher said he was not concerned about his cornerback.

“I don’t have concern about any of our players, as long as they are working the process,” Bettcher said. “I think Jack is doing that. I think he is coming to practice, I saw it today, he’s diving to knock balls away, he’s competing, he’s working on fundamentals and techniques in individual, he’s all in on fixing what he needs to fix. The truth is, he’s not the only one.

“On some of those snaps, his technique might not have been as good as he would want it to be, but there’s maybe a rusher or two that their technique wasn’t as good, either. We’re coaching all of those guys, not just one.”

WR Cody Latimer (concussion) ditched the non-contact jersey at practice and was upgraded to a full participant. LB Lorenzo Carter (elbow) was also a full go while WR Bennie Fowler (hamstring) was limited. Ogletree, LB Tae Davis and DL Olsen Pierre (knee) worked off to the side but did not practice. Neither did WR Russell Shepard (sprained foot), who was in a walking boot.