The Giants are suddenly in need of some help on their offensive line and, as a result, they took a look Thursday at Jake Long, once a star left tackle, a player who lately has been beset by major injuries.
Seemingly set at left tackle, the Giants last week were jolted by the news that Will Beatty, the starter at that position, will miss at least half the 2015 season after tearing a pectoral muscle while lifting weights. Beatty had started 46 consecutive games for the Giants.
The immediate shuffle has rookie first-round pick Ereck Flowers inserted at left tackle, a spot he played at the University of Miami. Flowers initially was slotted to play right tackle as a rookie with the Giants. Marshall Newhouse, a veteran signed in free agency, lined up at right tackle during the first organized team activity practice on Wednesday.
The injury to Beatty leaves the Giants perilously thin at offensive tackle. Long, 30, was once one of the best in the NFL. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, selected by the Dolphins out of Michigan. Long was an instant starter and made the Pro Bowl his first four years with the Dolphins.
That was before his body began breaking down. Long ended the past four seasons on injured reserve and is coming off torn ACL injuries the past two years. He signed a four-year, $34 million deal with the Rams in free agency prior to the 2013 season but his knees betrayed him in St. Louis. Long played in only seven games in 2014 before his latest knee injury and after the season the Rams cut him in a move that saved them $9.25 million on the salary cap.
Long tore his ACL the most recent time on October 26 and is not yet ready to return to football activities. He might never again be able to play left tackle in the NFL and the Giants undoubtedly wanted to see how far away Long is from getting back onto the field.