New York Giants Injury News: Rashad Jennings Out With MCL Sprain; Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Has Leg Injury
The New York Giants have been one of the hottest teams in the National Football League in recent weeks, winning their last three consecutive games. These wins have come against the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, and Houston Texans. After struggling early on, and losing their first two games, the Giants offense has finally found their groove.
Unfortunately for the Giants, running back Rashad Jennings sprained his MCL in his left leg against the Atlanta Falcons.
Jennings is expected to miss at least the next two games because of the injury. Over the next two weeks, the Giants will face the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. In Week 8, the Giants will get a bye, so Jennings will not be returning until at least Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts-Giants matchup will be a Monday Night game. Essentially, Jennings will get the next three weeks off at minimum.
The good news for Jennings is, surgery is not required.
The 29-year-old back was a great signing by the Giants this past off-season. Last season, Jennings led the Oakland Raiders in rushing with 733 yards and six touchdowns. This season, Jennings has 396 rushing yards and 109 receiving yards through the team's first five games. His best performance came in Week 3 against the Houston Texans when he ran for 176 yards and a touchdown in a 30-17 victory.
According to head coach Tom Coughlin, Andre Williams will take over as the starting running back. Williams is a rookie running back out of Boston College who was drafted by the team in the fourth round. Williams has 170 rushing yards on 54 carries this season. Backing him up will be veteran back Peyton Hillis. Both Hillis and Williams are large running backs who weigh over 235 pounds each.
The NFC East has been the best division in the NFL this season with a combined 12 wins by the Giants, Cowboys, Redskins and Eagles. Quarterback Eli Manning is going to have a big responsibility over the next two games without his starting running back.
The Giants offense currently ranks 15th overall in rushing yards per game.
Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is also battling a leg injury. He, too, left the previous game against the Atlanta Falcons because of a leg injury, but all reports indicate he is ready to play against the Eagles. Cromartie and Coughlin both explained that the pain went as far down as the ankle and all the way up to the hip. The injury doesn't appear to be serious.
The Giants take on the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday Night Football on Oct. 12 at 8:30 p.m. EST.
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