EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants continued to
shuffle their injury-depleted linebacker corps on Tuesday, placing
Carlos Emmons in injured reserve and signing Jay Foreman, the
second player picked up at that position in two days.
Emmons, who has a strained right pectoral muscle, was placed on
IR the day after the team did the same with rookie middle
linebacker Chase Blackburn, who sprained his neck last week in
Washington after returning an interception for a touchdown against
the Redskins. Antonio Pierce, the starter at middle linebacker, has
been out since Dec. 11 with a high ankle sprain.
Kevin Lewis, who started for the Giants at middle linebacker
last season, was signed Monday. He had been cut in September after
he was beaten out by Blackburn. Foreman, cut by Oakland in training
camp, began his career in 1999 with Buffalo and also played for
Houston.
The Giants also placed reserve running back Derrick Ward on IR
Tuesday with a groin injury and signed veteran running back Mike
Cloud, who will return for his third tour of duty with the team.
"We needed to do some things to put us in a position to get
some depth," coach Tom Coughlin said. "We might not have wanted
to do these things, but we had to. Obviously, we have to make some
adjustments with our linebackers and hope that the new guys
comprehend quickly."
The team decided to put Emmons on IR rather than Pierce because
they believe Pierce, the team's leading tackler, can recover in
time to help the team in the playoffs. Pierce will not play
Saturday at Oakland, where the Giants (10-5) will seek to clinch
the NFC East.
The Giants already have wrapped up a wild-card spot.