Thirteen Giants missed practice today, another was hurt during the workout and the team must lop 15 players off the roster by 4 p.m. tomorrow. Against this backdrop, they will play their final preseason game against New England in three days, which makes this a challenging week for Tom Coughlin.
"It's very, very difficult because, first and foremost, you have an obligation to play the games in the preseason," Coughlin said after practice. "So while we can talk all we want about, 'We have to meet this deadline with these cuts,' somebody has to play the game. So if you have an injury or two at a spot, it affects what you're going to do. It makes it a difficult, anxious kind of a thing. You can walk out there and have things set in your mind, and then something happens and you have to adjust."
Asked about his approach to the game, Coughlin said, "It's going to be normal. I'll approach it the best way that we can. We have a bunch of people, some who played pretty well the other night, some who didn't. The opportunity is there."
Coughlin was not prepared to reveal how much the starters will play.
*Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, who began practicing last week after coming off the physically unable to perform list, might see his first preseason action Wednesday. Then again, he might not.
"We have another practice to go and then we'll make a call on that," Coughlin said. "He practiced pretty close to full speed today. He did a great job after the catch, of turning and running, those are the things we need to see, and then see how he feels a little bit afterwards, and so on."
*Coughlin said safety Tyler Sash's ankle "locked up" during practice. Sash was carted off the field.
*Defensive end Osi Umenyiora missed practice for the first time this summer. Coughlin said his absence due to some swelling in his knee was precautionary.
*Tackle Will Beatty, who has missed the entire preseason, did some work on the side with the team's trainers and watched the remainder of practice. How much Beatty will do going forward is, Coughlin said, "It's always based on what's he like afterwards? What's it going to be like?"
*Jayron Hosley, who suffered a turf toe injury vs. the Jets on Aug. 18, is no longer in a walking boot.
*Also missing practice were linebackers Michael Boley (hamstring) and Mathias Kiwanuka (groin), defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul (back) and Adrian Tracy (hamstring), defensive tackle Shaun Rogers (blood clot), cornerbacks Prince Amukamara (ankle) and Terrell Thomas (knee), wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan (leg) and guard Chris Snee (leg). Also sitting out were the two players on the physically unable to perform list: defensive tackle Chris Canty (knee) and tight end Travis Beckum (knee).
Coughlin said Pierre-Paul, who had back spasms last week, is "getting better."
