Giants DE Justin Tuck returns to practice, is questionable to play vs. Redskins on Sunday
Justin Tuck wants to play in Sunday's season opener against the Redskins in Landover, Md. He knows how badly the beleaguered Giants defense needs him.
And Saturday, he finally looked as if he just might get on the field against Washington.
After battling serious neck pain for two days, Tuck returned to the practice field, working through a limited session. He is listed as questionable on the injury report.
The two-time Pro Bowl defensive end has been dealing with neck pain ever since he suffered a stinger in the Giants' preseason game against the Jets on Aug. 29, and the injury only worsened this week. On Wednesday, he struggled through a limited practice session, and on Thursday, Tuck didn't even set foot on the field, prompting concerns that he might not play at all in Week 1.
But Friday, there was guarded optimism.
"He moved around pretty good," Tom Coughlin said. "So we will see."
Still, Tuck was also participating in the lightest practice of the week. He warmed up and stretched with the team, and he did some individual drills during the media portion of practice.
But the Giants donned only shells - not full pads - for Friday's workout, and there was limited contact, Coughlin said.
"It was a lot of hand-to-hand contact, but that was about it," Coughlin said. "He did go out, and he did practice, and he did run around. He took his snaps."
If Tuck does sit out, it will be a severe blow to a defense that has already seen season-ending injuries to LBs Clint Sintim and Jonathan Goff and top CB Terrell Thomas. And while Tuck is taking his injury very seriously because of its sensitive location, the Giants' defensive captain knows his team needs him.
"I'm hopeful," he said as he walked away from his teammates after practice. "We'll see what happens."
