Jon Beason Injury: Giants' LB will miss three months with broken foot

New York Giants linebacker Jon Beason will miss approximately three months with a ligament tear and a small sesamoid fracture in his right foot. The news was first reported by Kimberly Jones of the NFL Network and has been confirmed by the team.

Beason will be in North Carolina Monday to see foot and ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson. Beason hopes to return in time for the season opener Sept. 8 vs. the Detroit Lions.

"The prognosis is X amount of time and it (the Sept. 8 opener) is within that time frame," Beason said Friday. "I expect to be back (for that game). If not, I'll be back as soon as I can. That's really how you have to look at it. If it's not 16 (games played), maybe it's 15 or 14. Whatever it is, you want it to be that number as opposed to one.

Beason was hurt defending a pass play during the Giants' practice.

"It's just one of those things - you have freak injuries," Beason said. "I was just changing directions. I would say that the movement was a little unorthodox, I was flexing with the big toe in the ground and then I pivoted on it all the way around. It's a movement that I often do that allows me to come in and out of my breaks faster. I literally felt like I stepped in like a sprinkler head hole. I just felt it give right away, so the next step I knew I couldn't put the foot down.

"I had a bad feeling. I really felt that I that I had torn the extensor, which is the tendon with the muscle, it's how your big toe functions. That would have been season-ending. So at least now there's a procedure, possibly. We haven't decided if it's something that's invasive or something that you just kind of let heal on its own. The time frame is about the same, but it's not season-ending, so I'm happy about that."

The Giants have had a run of injuries like this in recent seasons. In 2012, Hakeem Nicks suffered a broken foot. Last season, Henry Hynoski suffered a knee injury and Jason Pierre-Paul opted for back surgery to fix a lingering issue. All of those players returned to begin the season, but none played up to their previous standards.

As we discussed on Thursday, the Giants have several options in the short-term. Moving Jameel McClain inside until Beason returns might be the most likely course of action. Rookie fifth-round pick Devon Kennard may also get additionalreps. Veteran Mark Herzlich, with six starts over three seasons, could also get an opportunity.

How they approach the position will be a major story line during the mandatory mini-camp next week. Your thoughts, Giants fans?