If the New York Giants are going to have a big week offensively, they will be doing it with one or two less running backs on the field. The team is looking for some kind of spark as they prepare to face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11, but injuries continue to stall the offense. As head coach Tom Coughlin remains hopeful Rashad Jennings will take the field this week, running back Michael Cox will not.
Cox was thrown into the limelight in Week 10 after all three running backs for the Giants went down. With Jennings out, Andre Williams struggling and Peyton Hillis getting injury, Cox stepped onto the field and carried the ball four times for 33 yards. However, that was the extent of his season as the Giants have placed the former seventh-round draft pick on injured reserve following a fracture in his leg.
The loss of Cox puts a lot of pressure on the current running back rotation for the Giants. Hillis remains out with a concussion that could keep him out for Week 11 play. Jennings' status remains unclear following an early knee injury that he is still recovering from. The ground game could be down to just Williams on Sunday, something New York is attempting to remedy. The team has signed running back Orleans Darkwa to the roster. He was an undrafted free agent picked up by the Miami Dolphins and had three catches for 31 yards and four carries for two yards before getting waived.
The Giants remain hopeful that Jennings will be back on the field in Week 11 following his recovery from a knee injury that has sidelined him for a month. The running back has been spotted at practice, giving Coughlin hope he is able to play against San Francisco
"Hopefully, without a setback, he'll be ready to go," Coughlin said, via ESPN.com. "He'll give us a tremendous lift."
The status of Jennings is something to monitor as the week continue. If the running back is unable to play, Williams will be the starter with Darkwa as the No. 2 back. Eli Manning will be left to rely heavily on Odell Beckham Jr and Rueben Randle against a tough San Francisco secondary which could spell trouble for the team looking for a much-needed win.