Devon Kennard Injury: Rookie won't play in season finale

Devon Kennard's rookie season is over. The exciting young linebacker for the New York Giants won't play in Sunday's season finale vs. the Philadelphia Eagles due to a toe injury suffered last week against the St. Louis Rams.

Kennard, selected in the fifth round (174th overall), finishes the season with 4.5 sacks, 43 tackles, two forced fumbles and a pass defensed in 12 games, including six starts. Kennard has been a critical part of the Giants' resurgent pass rush, with all of those sacks coming in the last four games. The Giants have compiled 24 sacks during that time and are fourth in the league with 43. They had only 19 through the first 11 games.

Kennard suffered a hamstring injury in the season opener vs. the Detroit Lions that set him back several weeks. He is one of several young defenders -- Kerry Wynn, Damontre Moore, Jay Bromley and Mike Harris among the others -- who have contributed in recent weeks.

Rookie running back Andre Williams is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury, but head coach Tom Coughlin expressed confidence on Friday that Williams, who leads the Giants with 678 yards rushing, will play Sunday.