I just got back from the locker room, where there is great concern over WR Steve Smith. Smith suffered what is believed to be a strained pectoral muscle reaching for a ball at practice and his status for Sunday’s game is uncertain. He was sent for tests immediately.
“He had trouble driving his arms after the injury so he couldn’t continue but I don’t have anything else to tell you until the tests,” Tom Coughlin said.
“It was a ball in the middle where he extended,” Coughlin said.
Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, noting that defenses are designed to stop Smith first, sounded as though he wasn’t counting on Smith Sunday.
“It’s a huge loss but we’ll make do,” he said.
“People have said it’s hard to cover him one on one inside so people have committed other people, additional resources” Gilbride said. “That either opens up running opportunities for us or opens up passing opportunities for other people.”
Gilbride's comments fail to make the situation seem very encouraging. Mario Manningham would likely become the starting WR next to Hakeem Nicks. Manningham has done very well this season in his limited plays on the field with Smith and Nicks getting most of the action so he figures to take on a key role in any games Smith or Nicks can't play. He's actually a nice WR handcuff to both players and someone to grab soon if you haven't already.
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