New York Giants’ tight end Jake Ballard questionable against San Francisco 49ers – NFL News Update
Just two days before the National Football Conference championship game, New York Giants are still not sure whether tight end, Jake Ballard, will play against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, January 22, 2012, and listed the player as questionable for
the game on Friday.
During the regular season game of the National Football League (NFL) against Washington Redskins, Ballard sprained his posterior cruciate ligament and was forced to sit out of the following games against New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys.
He returned in the playoffs and participated in the games against Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers, but was not a hundred percent fit.
On Thursday, he injected medication in his knee and did not practise on Friday.
Despite acknowledging the fact that he is still bothered by the injury, Ballard is confident to play against the 49ers.
He informed that the progress of his recovery is slow, but stated he would be ready to take the field on Sunday.
"Like I said, this PCL is not going to heal overnight. It's usually about six, seven weeks before you really don't feel it anymore. It's only been about four maybe. Just playing football, if you land on it or anything, you can re-aggravate it. To really
get healthy, you go about six, seven weeks without playing football. That's not going to happen and I'll be ready to go", Ballard said.
Ballard, who is in his second professional season, started 13 games while playing 14 in the regular season, in which he managed 604 yards on 38 receptions for four touchdowns.
However, his postseason performance is not very impressive and it can easily be inferred that the injury is troubling the player.
In two games of the postseason, he only has three receptions for 33 yards to his name.
Nevertheless, Tom Coughlin, thinks that Ballard is a valuable asset for the team.
“He is a guy that is really growing in the position and gives us a big strong body blocking and has done a very good job of catching the ball and getting open”, Coughlin said of Ballard.
Ballard has asserted that he is feeling much better than he was in the game against the Packers, but his inclusion in the game against the 49ers is not guaranteed, and the management will make a final decision about Ballard on Saturday.
The winner of the 49ers-Giants game will not only take the NFC crown, but will also qualify for the Super Bowl.
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