New York Giants’ defensive end, Osi Umenyiora, limited in practice – NFL News
New York Giants’ defensive end, Osi Umenyiora, entered the practice field on Wednesday after a gap of around one month. However, he practised on a limited basis and his participation in the Sunday’s game against Dallas Cowboys is not confirmed.
At the start of the season, Umenyiora had to sit out of three games due to knee injury. He has missed last four games due to high ankle sprain.
It was a welcome development for the Giants to see him practising and if he continues to perform well in training and feels fit, he could get a start against the Cowboys.
Giants’ coach, Tom Coughlin, said that the player is recovering fast and might be fit enough to play the game on Sunday. The coach informed that after undergoing different medical examinations, Umenyiora is regaining his strength.
Umenyiora, an eight-year veteran, has started seven games while playing eight this season. He has 23 tackles and 7.0 sacks to his name. He has been playing with the Giants after starting his career with the franchise since 2003.
His return will certainly boost Giants’ defensive line, which will need its full strength during Sunday’s crucial game that will decide the fate of the National Football Conference (NFC) East division.
The Cowboys and the Giants are tied for the first place in the division with eight victories and seven defeats each and the winner of the game will reach the playoffs. A tie will also be at Giants’ advantage.
Giants’ safety, Antrel Rolle, has welcomed Umenyiora on the field and said that his inclusion in the line-up will support the team’s defence. He also said that Umenyiora has fought hard to recover from his injury.
“It means everything to have Osi out there,” Rolle said. “He is fighting, he’s fighting for himself, he’s fighting for this team and he’s fighting for what we have at stake.”
Along with Rolle, lineman, Dave Tollefson, has also said that the presence of all the healthy and experienced players in the line-up is what the Giants are looking for against the Cowboys.
He said:
“It would be impeccable timing, to get everybody healthy and running.
He added:
“That’s the plan, everybody has a plan until you get punched in the mouth, so hopefully we can execute it with everybody going, and really kind of implement the plan we’ve been hoping to implement all year, with all these guys that can rush and do different
things.”
Umenyiora will also take part in Thursday’s practice where his fitness will be monitored.
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