Jon Beason turned his career around in New York last season with the Giants, developing into one of the key members of their defense. Tom Coughlin's crew will need to learn to live without Beason for a while this year.
NFL Media's Kimberly Jones reported Friday that Beason suffered a sesamoid fracture in his right foot, an injury he suffered at practice Thursday. His recovery is expected to take 12 weeks, according to a source aware of his diagnosis. That would put Beason's availability for Week 1 in doubt.
The Giants announced that Beason also suffered a ligament tear. Jones reported that Beason will likely need surgery, but he is pondering his options.
"I really felt that I that I had torn the extensor, which is the tendon with the muscle, it's how your big toe functions," Beason said. "That would have been season-ending. So at least now there's a procedure, possibly. We haven't decided if it's something that's invasive or something that you just kind of let heal on its own. The timeframe is about the same, but it's not season ending, so I'm happy about that."
Beason re-signed with the Giants on a three-year deal in March and is expected to start at middle linebacker. The entire linebacker corps has been a weakness for a long time in New York, and this news doesn't help matters. Mark Herzlich is the most likely candidate to take snaps at middle linebacker with the starters now. Spencer Paysinger, Jameel McClain, and Jacquian Williams are also jockeying for playing time on the outside.
At his best, Beason has been a difference-making linebacker throughout his career. But injuries are too often a big part of his story and this doesn't bode well for this 2014 season.
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