Madison

Hedgecock

The fullback is expected to miss up to six weeks with the injury.

Hedgecock will be replaced by Richard Owens, a tight end/H-back, who played for head coach Scott Linehan in Minnesota and at Louisville.

Hedgecock is a true lead blocker, which New York had been lacking. He’ll likely take some time to get used to the Giants’ offense, but Hedgecock’s addition should free up Reuben Droughns to see more action at tailback with Brandon Jacobs (MCL) injured. It’s not great news for Derrick Ward.

The Rams made a mistake by waiving Hedgecock in September, as he’s proven to be valuable as both a special teamer and battering ram in front of Brandon Jacobs for New York. The Giants’ seventh-ranked run offense is currently averaging 137.8 yards-per-game behind the 270-pound Hedgecock.

The surgery won’t threaten his status for much OTA work, and he should easily be 100 percent by 2010 training camp. The injury may explain his 2009 struggles; Hedgecock compared playing through the torn labrum to “boxing somebody with a broken hand.” He’s under contract cheaply through 2012.

Hedgecock sustained the injury on his first carry of the season, but isn’t expected to miss any time after undergoing surgery Monday. “A helmet hit right on it,” Hedgecock said. “It went numb, and it started swelling.”

It appears he’s likely to miss a third straight game. The Giants’ rushing attack hasn’t suffered without Hedgecock, as tight end Bear Pascoe has done a nice job filling in at fullback.

Hedgecock is very important for the Giants’ ground game, so it would hurt Ahmad Bradshaw’s value a bit if he has to miss significant time. At this point we don’t know how severe the injury is.

We’re not sure as to the severity at this point, but the fullback’s comment certainly isn’t encouraging. Tight end Bear Pascoe was forced to take snaps Sunday night after Hedgecock went out, as the Giants didn’t have another fullback on the active roster. Coach Tom Coughlin would only say about the situation, “I don’t know yet what we’re going to do there.”

The Giants’ rushing attack hasn’t missed a beat behind backup fullback Bear Pascoe, so don’t expect the team to rush Hedgecock back.