NFL New York Giants

No Excuses, But Injuries Have Haunted 2014 New York Giants

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By @MuscleSportMag

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The old adage in the NFL is that injuries are part of the game, and that has been proven once again this season with the New York Giants. Every unit has been affected by it and even though it would be easy to point the proverbial finger at that, that has not been the case.

Going as far back to OTAs, the Giants have been missing key players that factored into their plans. The first was running back David Wilson, who ended up having to retire due to a neck injury. Then linebacker Jon Beason hurt his foot during the first session and was only able to endure the pain for four regular season games before having to submit to it.

The team’s injured reserve list has other names that would have been major contributors, such as wide receivers Victor Cruz and Jerrel Jernigan and cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Walter Thurmond.

First-round draft choice Odell Beckham Jr. pulled a hamstring during training camp and was sidelined until Week 6. He has now become quarterback Eli Manning’s favorite target. Wilson’s replacement Rashad Jennings was off to a solid start before missing time with a sprained knee.

On the offensive line, Geoff Schwartz will be making his first start of the season on Sunday versus the Dallas Cowboys after recovering from an ankle injury and Justin Pugh has been ruled out (quadriceps). Punter Steve Weatherford has battled injuries since Week 1.

Who knows where the Giants (4-7) would be right now if even one or two of those injuries hadn’t occurred. But head coach Tom Coughlin has been around long enough to know that is not the case, as he commented at a recent press conference posted on the team’s website.

“It’s certainly a disappointment,” he said. “It is part of the game and it happens to every team. You pray to have the team you had coming out of (training) camp and it’s just not the case. You can’t dwell on it, because if you do, you’ll end up being a basket case.”

Coughlin is wise enough to take the high road, but even someone who has coached 19 years in this league has to be scratching his head over the way the injury bug has hit the Giants this year.

Joe Pietaro is a New York Giants writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @MuscleSportMag, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

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