Giants injury report: Pugh, Vernon, Goodson miss practice again

There was a mixed bag of both good and bad news for the New York Giants in their Thursday injury report.

The best news

Tight end Rhett Ellison is now a daddy. His wife, fashion model Raina Hein, has given birth to the couple’s first child. Congratulations!

The good news

Wide receiver Sterling Shepard (ankle) was a full participant in practice and appears to be a go for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Shepard hasn’t played since Week 5, and the Giants have completed only seven passes to wide receivers over the past two weeks.

“He (Shepard) brings a lot to the table that really can help us,” said offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan.

Shepard said Thursday that “nothing” is holding him back at this point.

“I’m coming back and we’ll see if we can get things balanced and get the ball moving,” he said.

Running back Paul Perkins, out since suffering a rib injury Week 4, should also return. Where he fits in the running back rotation right now is uncertain, with Orleans Darkwa and Wayne Gallman both having success in recent weeks.

The bad news

There is plenty of this.

For starters, it looks like Justin Pugh (back) is unlikely to play Sunday. He hasn’t practiced all week. That means Bobby Hart will probably be back in the lineup at right tackle. Unless the Giants decide to take a look at rookie Chad Wheeler.

Also, is anyone else worried about center Weston Richburg at this point? Richburg (concussion) has not practiced or played since leaving the Week 4 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That is now almost a full five weeks ago.

The Giants could be extremely short-handed on defense. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins is, of course, suspended and won’t play. Olivier Vernon appears likely to miss a fourth straight game and fellow defensive end Kerry Wynn (knee) hasn’t practiced this week. That explains why the Giants added both Devin Taylor and Jordan Williams to the 53-man roster. Middle linebacker B.J. Goodson (ankle) also hasn’t practiced this week.

In addition, cornerback Donte Deayon was added to the injury list Thursday with an ankle issue. If he can’t play, Eli Apple, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Ross Cockrell would be the only remaining healthy cornerbacks. You would have to think that would almost certainly force the Giants to make yet another roster move.

Full Giants injury report

Did Not Practice

LB B.J. Goodson (ankle)
OL Justin Pugh (back)
C Weston Richburg (concussion)
DE Olivier Vernon (ankle)
DE Kerry Wynn (knee)

Limited participation

LB Jonathan Casillas (neck)
CB Donte Deayon (ankle)
LB Calvin Munson (quad)

Full participation

S Nat Berhe (calf)
TE Rhett Ellison (not injury related)
RB Paul Perkins (ribs)
WR Sterling Shepard (ankle)
DT Robert Thomas (calf)