Every player on the Giants’ roster was in attendance today for the start of the mandatory veteran minicamp, but one player expected to participate stayed on the sideline.
Defensive tackle Jay Alford, who missed all of last season with a torn left anterior cruciate ligament, could not practice after “tweaking” his left MCL last week.
Alford said he slightly sprained the same knee he injured last season and his expected recovery time is 2-3 weeks. He’s already one week into the rehab process so he expects to be ready in plenty of time for the Aug. 1 start of training camp.
“It was scary,” Alford admitted. “The moment it happened I felt a little pain so I was like I hope it’s not all over again because I don’t know if I could have took that.”
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Some highlights from the first minicamp practice:
Jonathan Goff was the starting middle linebacker, with rookie Phillip Dillard next in line.
WR Sinorice Moss made a move to free himself deep of Sha’feff Rashad but Jim Sorgi’s pass was overthrown.
LB Micah Johnson should have intercepted a pass over the middle from Rhett Bomar but the ball slipped through Johnson’s hands.
CB Terrell Thomas in a 7-on-7 drill had a strong pass breakup against Mario Manningham.
In one of the few deep passes completed in the morning, WR Ramses Barden made a double move to escape the coverage of CB Aaron Ross and Eli Manning led Barden perfectly, dropping the ball over Barden’s shoulder into his waiting hands.
CB Corey Webster stepped in front of a Sorgi pass for an interception.
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As expected, S Kenny Phillips did not participate but maintains he’s on schedule for training camp.
“I’ll be ready for training camp,” Phillips said. “I’m doing everything now, running, cutting, back pedaling.”