[Note by Ed Valentine, 09/03/13 4:49 PM EDT] Hold the phone! Apparently the Giants HAVE NOT YET placed running back Andre Brown on IR with a designation to return.
I'm told same as @TomRock_Newsday - no IR/designation to return 4 Andre Brown expected today. It is expected, but #NYG keeping options open
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) September 3, 2013
Sounds like this is what WILL happen. It just hasn't happened yet.
The New York Giants have placed running back Andre Brown on short-term Injured Reserve with a designation to return.
See y'all week 8
— Andre Brown (@drebrown35) September 3, 2013
Per Ralph Vacchiano on Twitter, this means Brown will be eligible to return to practice after Week 6 and will be eligible to be activated after Week 8. The Giants are off Week 9, so the first game Brown would be eligible for would be Week 10 vs. the Oakland Raiders.
There has been plenty of speculation in recent days about what the Giants will do at running in Brown's absence. Second-year man David Wilson is the unquestioned starter, with third-year man Da'Rel Scott and rookie Michael Cox in reserve. All three could be considered relatively untested.
Former Giants' running back Brandon Jacobs is available, and Giants' fans on Twitter consistently bring up his name. There have, however, been no indications the Giants are interested in a reunion with the volatile Jacobs.
There were reports on Monday that the Giants were interested in former Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells.
Vacchiano also tweeted names like Ryan Grant and Kevin Smith "among others." Conor Orr of the Star-Ledger tweeted that the Giants may have interest in Ronnie Wingo, a 6-foot-3, 231-pound power back currently on the Buffalo Bills practice squad.
The Giants worked out Tim Hightower, who remains a free agent, during the offseason.
Teams are allowed to designate only one player to return from IR each season.
No matter who they bring in it seems unlikely the Giants will make a move before Sunday's season-opener vs. the Dallas Cowboys. Veterans signed before Week 1 count against the salary cap all season. After Week 1 signed players count vs. the cap only on a weekly basis.