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The New York Giants added David Diehl, Ahmad Bradshaw and Domenik Hixon to their list of injured players, but Big Blue's division rivals have some injury concerns of their own with big names like Brian Orakpo, Jeremy Maclin and Gerald Sensabaugh leading a long list of injured Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.
We've talked about how the Giants will replace Bradshaw and Diehl (and we'll have more on Hixon later today) in the short-and-maybe-long-term, but let's take a look around the division at other team's key injuries. There are big names and not-so-big names, but each team has their share of problems.
We'll start with the 2-0 Eagles, since they are in first place behind Michael Vick who – surprise surprise – is not one of the injuries we're talking about. Unfortunately for Vick, top target Jeremy Maclin re-injured a hip pointer that's been bothering him and might miss some time. Worse, starting center Jason Kelce is done for the season with a knee injury and starting left tackle King Dunlap has a hamstring injury.
With a quarterback as fragile as Mike Vick, a makeshift offensive line is bad news in Philly.
Washington Redskins
The 1-1 Redskins definitely got hit the hardest, losing two of their best defensive players in Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker for the season, further depleting a defense that has been without Brandon Merriweather at safety and lost cornerback Josh Wilson to a concussion last week. It's hard to see the Redskins defense, which got lit up by Sam Bradford, Danny Amendola and the St. Louis Rams in Week 2, rebounding from the loss of Orakpo and Carriker.
Robert Griffin III seems ready to get into some shootouts, but that's going to be a lot harder if Pierre Garcon doesn't get back from that foot injury sooner rather than later.
At 1-1, the Cowboys were rocketed back to earth by the 27-7 throttling at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks. They also face perhaps the most under the radar yet damning pair of injuries in the division. Starting safeties Gerald Sensabaugh "heard a pop" in his calf and fellow safety Barry Church sat out most of last week's game with a bone bruise in his thigh.
They aren't big names, but having two guys who have never started a game line up on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that showed us they can go over the top to Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams, is not a good recipe for Jerry Jones and the Boys.
Summing this all up makes us feel a lot better about the injuries the Giants are facing.
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BigBlueWahoo says:
September 18, 2012 at 6:11 PM
Greetings and salutations to all!
Long time reader and first time poster. I have been visiting the site since the middle of the ’07 miracle season. Multi-generation fan. Originally from Rutherford, but have since migrated to the temperate mid-atlantic. Attended UVA during Tiki’s time and am a big ACC fan. Enough bio, who gives a crap anyway? It just feels like I should give a little background – not sure why – new to this whole blogging with anonymous people deal. Anyhoo, really excited to see what Brown can provide going forward. Thought he was great in college and was stoked when the Gmen drafted him. Big back with speed and hands. Hits the hole quick and will take what he is given. Also, you have to respect this dudes will to succeed – how many running backs starting this week in the league have had a ruptured Achilles?
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Didn’t want this to get missed. Welcome!
I agree that I’m happy to see Brown finally get a chance. Limited sample size and all, he’s unquestionably been our best back so far in 2012. I’m still skeptical that he can ever be “what he could have been”, but right now I’m ecstatic to just have “hits the proper hole with authority”.
Thanks for the welcome!
Totally agree – I am not hoping for any thing more than “Andre”, not expecting “Jim” Brown. Just happy for the opportunity to see what he can do with an opportunity and his skill-set and a fair amount of heart. I love Bradshaw for his toughness, but think that someone who runs north/south is better for our line in it’s current state.
Regarding Barden, I’m still waiting to see anything worth spending money on too.
For all the “potential” he might have as a red zone target, raise your hand if you wouldn’t rather just throw that ball towards Nicks instead regardless of who is covering him.
Agreed.
I was intrigued when they drafted Barden. Who didn’t at least hope he would be a Plax clone with some brains?
I think as long as we have Cruz and Nicks, and hopefully Bennett furthering his development as a “red zone threat” we are fine with or without Ramses.
Carriker and Orakpo going down at the same time is a REALLY big blow to Washington. I imagine there are plenty of Redskins fans talking 2013 draft & free agency at this very moment.
http://cdn-7.nflximg.com/images/0283/1060283.jpg
Well done
Yeah it’s a huge blow. Orakpo and Carriker are Two of their top 3 defenders. Them losing those guys would be like us losing JPP and Tuck ( even though Tuck is off to a slow start.)
So Eli is on pace for 5,784 and Cruz and Nicks are both on pace for 1,896 each.
Welcome BigBlue Wahoo. Nice to see these new posters showing up. And your comments so far are right on the mark.
Hey, I was at the game, and I don’t care what it looked like on TV, Barden missed that first pass because he totally mistimed his jump. I’m not making excuses for Eli. He had an awful first half, a reversion to his worst days (although I can absolutely say that one interception was 100% the result of Cruz being held all the way down the field and another was a play where the defender made a phenomenal play, timing his getting back into the passing lane perfectly so Eli couldn’t pull the ball back). But Barden is, so far, useless. His best game, ever, was against the Jets last season and what did he have, four catches for 35 yards or something like that? I hope Randall pushes him aside quickly. That kid has real talent, although he still has a way to go before he’s ready.
I was there too. About 20′rows from where Barden was during that play. Also watched it again a few times at home. He didn’t mis time anyone. It was a wretched throw.
I’m sure Randle is going to pass Barden, that’s inevitable. Wanna talk about useless, jerrell Jernigan is useless.
Thanks for the welcome!
Love the site because of the atmosphere.
After re-watching tonight on NFLN replay, I agree about Barden’s first target – bad ball. The reception he had was nice, though he did not have to do much but catch it. I see him as he is – ok. I hope he becomes more, but right now he is what he is and he ain’t what he ain’t. Whoever mans the third wideout spot is inconsequential really – Nicks and Cruz are the real deal and Bennett looks to be making a statement as the third option.
Skins are in real trouble because their team was built around that defense. We may have seen the best the Cowboys will play all season when they came in and beat us (and we could have won that game). I think the Eagles are going to be the real competition if Vick can play more than a dozen games.
And don’t forget, we may have a brutal schedule, but all our division rivals have almost as tough roads to travel. The NFC East drew a tough schedule this season. Ours is the worst because we finished first, but all it gets our rivals is two easier games against the NFC North than we have, and at this point it’s starting to look like Detroit and Chicago may be vulnerable thanks to their O-lines and Green bay will be the only “powerhouse” in that division.
I know it’s not wise to not get too high after a win or too low after a loss in this league, but maybe Arizona could do us a favor this week? Kolb extra motivated, too.
Here’s my philosophy this season: don’t look at the schedule. Find 10 wins. You got one, just gotta get one more this week. I know that’s cliche, but it’s true. This week is the most important game of the season. I would have gone with “Today” or something similar over “Build the Bridge” this season as a result. Every game will bring out the best of your opponent, in practice, film and the weight room, I need my guys focused on bringing all they can today. Can’t overlook anyone, can’t expect to just turn it on at the end.
Good job, Simon.
I really would like to see Dan make this a weekly feature.
As football fans, we tend to get waaaaay too caught up in the whole “Woe is me!” mindset whenever we are confronted with news of our team’s latest bump, bruise, or torn ACL. A weekly rundown of the other key injuries throughout the division would be a useful reminder that the football gods have not singled us out for unique punishment.
And, of course, articles such as this also have great value to those of us who are of a Schadenfreudian bent.
A friend shared this with me. Epic rant by Cowboys fan after this week’s game. Language warning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifE6XkqMX9g
The best part is when he goes off on Dez Bryant at about 1:30.
LOL!! That was great! Thanks for posting
I’m curious to see how Carolina comes out on this short week after beating their daddy for the first time in 3 years.
BBG- Jernigen isnt going anywhere bro.. He like all other high draft picks will be here for the life of his rookie contract unless he blows his knee out 2-3 times like Sintim did. He is signed through 2014 so you can count on him getting 2 more years to show something. Not sure why we have this debate year after year about our young players. The Giants Playbook is one f the more complex ones in the league and is especially hard on wide rookies and second year players (and Mario Manning) so they dont expect much from them early on. Couple that with the fact that we have the best pair of WR’s in the league, an emerging TE and a commitment to running enough to have balance and their isnt a ton of opportunities for a guy like Jernigen. If Hixen is down for a while then he, Randle and Barden will get a look. Either way, JJ aint going anywhere for 2+ years. Get used to it and dont get your Bengal Vontaz Burifect Panties all up in a wad.