Jon Beason was back on the field Monday for the first time in three months, which is the best news the team could get.
Unless he played offense, of course.
The veteran linebacker was back from an offseason toe injury, and said he was ready to play the opener.
“He brings a presence that we’ve been missing,” defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins said. “He’s a leader, a natural leader, an intense person, and it’s great to have him back.”
Beason was a revelation since coming over from Carolina in a trade last season (since his job was usurped by Luke Kuechly), and they rewarded him with a three-year contract extension in March.
But his injury kept him off the field since June, and he knows it’s hard to lead from the training room.
“You can’t lead if you are not in the fire with guys,” he said. “How can I tell you what to do when I am over here hanging out, drinking Gatorade with a hat on?”
“I think that they trust that I am going to be there. Obviously they are going to be smart. [But] by the end of the week, I think they will feel pretty confident that I can go out and contribute on whatever level they deem OK.”
Anything will help, especially since the defense is going to have to carry them early, while the Giants offense finds its way.
