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Giants DE Umenyiora Needs Surgery, To Miss Season

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The Associated Press

Published: August 25, 2008

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - With the retirement of seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan, the job of repeating as Super Bowl champions was going to be difficult for the New York Giants.

Now it might be near impossible with the news that fellow Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora is out for the season with a knee injury.

An MRI on Sunday showed that Umenyiora tore the lateral meniscus in his left knee in a preseason game against the archrival Jets on Saturday night.

The two-time Pro Bowler will have surgery Tuesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. The recovery period is about four months.

Russell Warren, the team surgeon, never discussed a non-surgical option, Coach Tom Coughlin said.

"My No. 1 concern is about Osi," Coughlin said in a telephone conference call Sunday. "I did talk to him on the phone a short while ago and told him that he is in everyone's thoughts and prayers."

The devastating report came less than 24 hours after the team had thought it had caught a break in the wake of the second-quarter injury, which happened when Umenyiora's foot seemed to stick to the turf as he tried to beat Jets tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson to the outside.

Umenyiora was carted off the field with what the team described as a locked knee. X-rays taken during the game revealed no ligament damage. An MRI on Sunday found the torn meniscus on the 26-year-old who led the team with 13 sacks last season.

"It was obviously the news that I did not want to hear," Coughlin said. "But after listening to the explanation and Dr. Warren's thoughts on it, I am convinced that this is the right procedure and the right way to go."

The combination of the injury and Strahan's retirement leaves the Giants very thin at defensive end.

Coughlin said the team is considering all its options, with the most obvious being enticing the 36-year-old Strahan to come out of retirement.

Bills Ruin Opening Of Colts' Stadium

INDIANAPOLIS - The Buffalo Bills spoiled Indianapolis' grand opening celebration.
Xavier Omon ran for one touchdown, Terrence McGee returned a fumble for another score and Rian Lindell kicked two field goals, leading the Bills to a 20-7 victory against the mistake-prone Colts in the new Lucas Oil Stadium debut.

The Colts' only score came on a 94-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Gray to Devin Aromashodu late in the third quarter.

Indy played without either of its top quarterbacks, Peyton Manning or Jim Sorgi. Sorgi was a late scratch because of a gimpy knee. Manning hasn't played since having knee surgery in mid-July, and Gray threw four interceptions.

BENGALS: Quarterback Carson Palmer broke his nose during Saturday night's preseason game against the Saints, but Coach Marvin Lewis said he should be ready for the regular-season opener.

Lewis said in a statement Palmer had a small crack in one of his nose bones and it took doctors about 10 minutes to put it back in place.

EAGLES: Safety Brian Dawkins is expected to be ready for the start of the season despite straining his right ankle against New England.

FALCONS: Matt Ryan will be starting quarterback. The No. 3 overall draft pick was chosen Sunday by first-year coach Mike Smith, who indicated that Ryan likely will play just the first series of Atlanta's preseason finale Thursday night at Baltimore.

The Falcons signed veteran tight end Marcus Pollard on Sunday, adding experience and a receiving threat at the position. The Falcons released tight end George Cooper, who was signed Aug. 4.

RAIDERS: Oakland lost two players from its already-thin offense to season-ending knee injuries when receiver Drew Carter and fullback Oren O'Neal went down in Saturday night's 24-0 loss to Arizona.

REDSKINS: Defensive end Jason Taylor is expected to be sidelined 10-14 days with a sprained right knee, putting his availability in doubt for Washington's season opener against the Giants on Sept. 4.

TEXANS: Placed Harry Williams on injured reserve after he suffered a severe neck injury in Friday's preseason game against Dallas. Houston also re-signed fullback Jon Abbate on Sunday.

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