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Strahan, Petitgout and Morton Placed on Injured Reserve
Giants lose another three starters with one game remaining.
By Michael Eisen, Giants.com

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December 26, 2006

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Four days before the regular season finale in Washington that will likely determine their playoff fate, the Giants today placed three key players on injured reserve.

Defensive end Michael Strahan, tackle Luke Petitgout and punt and kickoff returner Chad Morton were all put on I.R. and are officially out for the remainder of the season.

To take their places on the roster, the Giants signed wide receiver Darius Watts, tight end Darcy Johnson from their practice squad, and running back Robert Douglas from the Houston Texans' practice squad.

Strahan suffered a Lis Franc sprain in his foot on Nov. 5 against Houston. He sat out the next six games, then returned to the field in Sunday's 30-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Strahan had five tackles (three solo) and knocked down a pass. But he aggravated the injury late in the game and may need surgery.

A 14-year veteran, Strahan concludes his season with 50 tackles (34 solo) and three sacks, his lowest total since he had one as a rookie in 1993. His career sack total stands at 132.5, which a) leaves him tied with Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor for the Giants' all-time lead, and b) leaves him tied with Taylor and Leslie O'Neal for seventh on the NFL's career list.

Petitgout, the team's left offensive tackle, fractured his fibula on Nov. 5 against Chicago. The Giants did not immediately place him on I.R. in the hope that the injury would heal quickly enough to allow Petitgout to return to the field. But Petitgout has not progressed to point where that can still be considered a possibility.

Morton, the Giants leading kickoff (21.6-yard average on 31 returns) and punt (9.2-yard average on 29 returns) returner tore his left anterior cruciate ligament late in the first quarter of Sunday's New Orleans game. The injury will require surgery. It is the second time in three seasons that Morton has torn his ACL. In 2004 with Washington, he played six games before the injury to his right knee sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Watts is the most experienced of the new Giants. The 6-2, 190-pound receiver was originally a second-round draft choice (54th overall) by the Denver Broncos in 2004. As a rookie he played in all 16 games with two starts and caught 31 passes for 385 yards and a touchdown. Watts caught at least one pass in 15 of 16 games. He also had five rushing attempts for 33 yards. In 2005, Watts had two receptions in the first six games, then was inactive for the final 10 games and two postseason contests. The Broncos released him on Sept. 2, 2006.

At Marshall University, Watts had 272 catches, the fifth-highest total in NCAA Division 1-A history. They accounted for 4,031 yards and 47 touchdowns. As a senior, he caught 74 passes for 968 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Watts was born on Dec. 19, 1981 in Atlanta, where he starred at Banneker High School.

Johnson was originally signed by the Giants on May 13, 2006. He was with the team throughout training camp and was released on Sept. 2. Johnson was signed to the practice squad the following day and has been there the entire season.

At Central Florida, Johnson started 35 of 48 games and caught 81 passes for 919 yards and six touchdowns.

Douglas entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Tennessee Titans in 2005. He was released at the end of training camp, signed to the Titans' practice squad and was released on Nov. 11. Douglas was signed to the Texans' practice squad on Dec. 20, then to a reserve futures contract by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who released him on July 24 of this year.

Douglas did another short stint with the Buccaneers and spent a week on Houston's practice squad before being cut on Sept. 12. The Texans re-signed him to the practice squad on Dec. 18.

At the University of Memphis, Douglas switched from linebacker to fullback midway through his junior season. He finished his career with 16 carries for 65 yards and two touchdowns, plus nine catches for 121 yards. At linebacker, he had 55 tackles and four sacks.

Douglas was born on July 25, 1982 in St. Louis, where he was an all-state football player at Lutheran North High School.

The Giants also made a move on their practice squad, releasing running back Cedric Humes and signing tight end Jason Randall of Michigan State.