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WR Victor Cruz, LB Jon Beason ruled out vs. Cowboys

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Keep an eye on these five players as the Giants face the Cowboys on Sunday

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. –
The Giants today announced that wide receiver Victor Cruz and linebacker Jon Beason will both miss the team's season opener Sunday night in Dallas.


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Cruz hasn't practiced since Aug. 17 because of a calf injury. He missed the final 10 games of the 2014 season after tearing his right patellar tendon in Philadelphia on Oct. 12.

Coughlin said Cruz is not yet running, but, "he's getting better, he's getting better. He's improved, no doubt.

"As soon as he's ready to go, he'll be on the field and practicing. Until that time, we're all trying to figure out when exactly he'll be ready."

The Giants will compensate for Cruz' absence with a committee of wideouts that includes Odell Beckham Jr., Rueben Randle, Preston Parker, Dwayne Harris and rookie Jeremy Davis.

Beason suffered a knee injury in a preseason game against Jacksonville on Aug. 22. He practiced on a limited basis earlier this week, but has not improved enough to play in Dallas.

"(Beason) just didn't get any better," coach Tom Coughlin said. "Didn't get to the point where he felt he could play, and play the way he would like to. And the medical people agreed."

First-year free agent Uani 'Unga is expected to start at middle linebacker in his first NFL game. Mark Herzlich and newcomer Jasper Brinkley are also available.

"We've prepared for that," Coughlin said of Beason's absence. "We've had a preseason and a good full day yesterday with 'Unga in that position. So, I think a young guy, obviously who has not had that much experience in there, but he'll give great effort."

"He's ('Unga) a great player," said strongside linebacker Devon Kennard. "He just goes out there, and we'll make sure he's ready to go. I think we'll be fine.

"It's a 'next guy up' league. He's the next guy up, and he's going to make sure he's ready. He still has a lot of studying to do, we all do. When it's game time, we'll be ready."

The other three players on the injury list are all probable: linebacker Jonathan Casillas (neck), defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins (hamstring) and rookie defensive end Owa Odighizuwa (foot).

  • Today is the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Coughlin has eloquently spoken many times about what the day means to him, and today was no different.

"Very emotional for all of us," he said. "We should always remember. We should never forget the lessons learned on 9/11. But one of the things to really grab a hold of is the way it unified our country, and made us literally one, with everyone saying what can we do? What can we do? From that standpoint, it's a tremendous example for our football team of people coming together and realizing that they have to serve each other. They have to work with each other and for each other to make it the best possible circumstance. So although it's a sad day to remember, and we share all those emotions with our entire country, not just New Yorkers, for what happened some 14 years ago, on the other hand, we have great respect and admiration for those, and again, the way we feel about the firemen and the policemen and all those who served their fellow man on that particular day, our respect couldn't be higher."

NEW YORK GIANTS
Player Injury Wed. Thu. Fri.* Game Status
WR Victor Cruz Calf DNP DNP DNP Out
LB Jon Beason Knee LP DNP DNP Out
DE Owa Odighizuwa Foot FP DNP LP Probable
LB Jonathan Casillas Neck LP FP FP Probable
DT Cullen Jenkins Hamstring LP FP FP Probable
 
DALLAS COWBOYS
Player Injury Wed. Thu. Fri. Game Status
Tackle Jordan Mills Foot FP LP FP Probable
QB Tony Romo Back DNP FP FP Probable
TE James Hanna Knee LP FP FP Probable
LB Anthony Hitchens Foot LP FP FP Probable
WR Devin Street Ankle LP FP FP Probable
Safety J.J. Wilcox Neck LP FP FP Probable

*Team held a walkthrough; practice participation projectedFP

= Full Participation (100% of a player's normal repetitions)
LP = Limited Participation in Practice (less than 100% of a player's normal repetitions)
DNP = Did Not Participate in Practice
Out = definitely will not play
Doubtful = at least 75% chance will not play
Questionable = 50-50 chance will not play
Probable = virtual certainty will be available for normal duty

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