Jon Beason’s long absence from the Giants lineup looks just about over.
The veteran middle linebacker, who hasn’t played in almost a year because of injury, was a full participant in practice Tuesday and appears likely to make his 2015 debut Thursday night against the Redskins at MetLife Stadium.
At this point the only thing that looks to be holding Beason back is the possibility of a setback in his once-ailing knee Wednesday or in the hours leading up to the game Thursday.
“I’m just looking for the nod, just looking for the nod,” Beason said Tuesday. “Going into the season, it was still sore. In years past, I would risk it all for one play. But you play in one game and end up missing a lot more.”
“So [sitting out the first two games] was probably the smartest thing to do,” he added. “Maybe [I’m giving] something back early to gain a lot in the end.”
The Giants’ 31st-ranked defense — which is also last in the NFL in passing yards allowed — definitely could use Beason’s presence Thursday, especially inside against Washington’s potent twin rushing attack of Alfred Morris and Matt Jones.
Beason’s replacement, Uani’ Unga, struggled in the first two games, and coach Tom Coughlin recently said the return of Beason “would be
a shot in the arm.”
Beason also said he thinks he could provide the Giants even more of a spark because he is well rested, while his teammates are all trying to recover from the short turnaround.
“Guys who played 60-70 plays Sunday, I’m in a different situation,” Beason said. “I feel pretty good, I feel fresh, but I know my teammates are really sore, and Washington probably is as well.”
Victor Cruz said he still hopes to play Thursday but sounded realistic in light of the fact he hasn’t practiced since Aug. 17 due to a calf injury.
“I’m closer,” Cruz said. “There’s no pain in there anymore, so it’s just a matter of getting the confidence back to running on it and cutting on it, things like that. You never know what could happen.”
Cruz said he would lobby Coughlin to play against the Redskins after running on grass Tuesday for the first time since the calf issue sidelined him. But Cruz said he realizes it likely will be a fruitless endeavor.
“If you know coach Coughlin, it’s going to take a lot,” Cruz said. “So we’ll see. I’m going to keep continuing to put the work in myself, and we’ll see where this takes me. But with [Coughlin], it gets tough.”
If rookie first-round pick Ereck Flowers plays Thursday night, it will be without any practice.
Flowers was absent Monday and also sat out Tuesday’s final workout because of an ankle injury, which would seem to leave the Giants’ left tackle unlikely to go against the Redskins.
But Flowers has shown a high pain tolerance so far in his young NFL career and sounded like he would try to go Thursday.
Asked if he was optimistic he would play, Flowers said, “I’m optimistic about life.”
