The New York Giants are heading into the 2013 season looking to improve heavily on the defensive side of the ball after giving up a record amount of yardage last year, but things have become a bit harder in that regard now after the third preseason game, as safety Stevie Brown was lost for the year after suffering an ACL injury against the New York Jets.
Brown, according to ESPN.com, went down after an interception against the Jets in the first half of their preseason game on Saturday and after the game an MRI showed that he suffered the tear. The Giants defense was playing mostly well for the first half and Brown was mostly untouched on his interception, but at the very tail end of the play, he went down without being fully tackled and grasped at his knee. He was taken off the field with the help of trainers and after the game the extent of the injury revealed itself, taking one of the top defensive players for the Giants out for the season.
Head coach Tom Coughlin said the team will miss the playmaking abilities of Brown, who showed his true skills last season while leading the Giants with eight interceptions. He was signed as a restricted free agent this offseason and was expected to play a big role on defense and now the team could be dealing with two players at the position injured, as Antrel Rolle is dealing with an ankle issue. Rolle's injury is not as serious, but it could spell trouble down the line for the Giants if he gets hurt again.
Terrell Thomas could also step up and help out after returning from his third significant knee surgery, but the Giants know that his season could end at any moment as well. Brown was considered one of the surprise players last season after making eight interceptions and racking up over 300 return yards and he signed a one-year deal with the team in the offseason. The Giants could try to add more depth after signing Ryan Mundy in the offseason and some options include Kerry Rhodes and other free agents that could be cut this week as rosters start getting towards opening week levels.
On the good side for the Giants, ESPN.com reports that Rolle and Corey Webster will practice this week and that gives the secondary some positive news, as the team has just two practices before playing their final game of the preseason against the New England Patriots. Rookie Cooper Taylor could end up being an integral player for the Giants with Brown's injury, as the team has high hopes after drafting him and although he is dealing with a hamstring issue this summer, it is likely he will get a high amount of reps if Jerry Reese doesn't choose to sign another player.
The Giants defense was ranked 28th in the league with 254.3 yards allowed per game last season and any improvement this year likely would have included Brown if he was on the field. Now the team likely will be down two starters on opening night, as Jason Pierre-Paul is expected to miss Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys after getting surgery in the offseason. Mundy will now have an increased role as well and after letting Kenny Phillips go in free agency to the Eagles, the Giants may end up thin at the position this season.