Giants Roster Breakdown: Markus Kuhn

Let's continue our player-by-player breakdown of the 90-man roster the New York Giants will bring to training camp with a discussion about second-year defensive tackle Markus Kuhn.

2012 Season In Review

Kuhn, 6-foot-4, 299 pounds, was drafted out of North Carolina State in the seventh round, only the second player from his native Germany to be drafted by an NFL team. The other is Sebastian Vollmer of the New England Patriots. Kuhn, somewhat surprisingly, moved past 2011 second-round pick Marvin Austin and became part of the defensive tackle rotation before a knee injury landed him on IR after 10 games. He finished with eight tackles and four passes defensed, showcasing potential as a useful member of the defensive tackle rotation.

2013 Outlook

For Kuhn, 27, you would have to call it uncertain. He did not practice at all during OTAs or mini-camp as he recovers from surgery to repair a torn ACL. There is no way of knowing right now when he might be ready, meaning he could begin on the PUP list. With the Giants having drafted Johnathan Hankins in the second round, added free agents Cullen Jenkins, Mike Patterson and Frank Okam, and with Austin and Shaun Rogers returning, Kuhn's path to a roster spot is a difficult one.

Just wondering here, but might it be possible Kuhn opens the regular season on the PUP list -- meaning he would miss the first six games -- and gets activated midseason as an injury replacement?