Cooper Taylor will undergo surgery and could be lost to the New York Giants for the entire 2014 season, head coach Tom Coughlin confirmed on Wednesday. Taylor suffered a broken sesamoid bone in his foot last Saturday vs. the Indianapolis Colts.
"He's going to need surgery," Coughlin said, adding that Taylor being placed on injured reserve is "a possibility."
Taylor, a second-year safety, had been showing tremendous progress thus far in the preseason. Taylor has a team-leading 14 tackles in three preseason games. He also has an interception and a pass defensed. Taylor also has a +4.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, best on the Giants defense thus far this preseason.
The 2013 fifth-round draft pick out of Richmond was expected to be one of the Giants backup safeties behind Antrel Rolle and Stevie Brown. The Giants also have veteran Quintin Demps and rookie Nat Berhe, a fifth-round pick this year, as reserve safeties.
More Injury News
We already knew that wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had been ruled out for Friday's game vs. the New York Jets. Coughlin said Wednesday that reserve offensive lineman James Brewer (back) has also been ruled out for Friday's game. With tackle Charles Brown (shoulder) also likely out and Will Beatty limited to about 20 snaps the Giants have shuffled offensive line combinations this week with Justin Pugh receiving some reps at left tackle.