Will

Beatty

Beatty underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in November. “I don’t want to show them an injured Will,” Beatty said. “I don’t want to visit a team and say ‘It’ll get better.’ I want to be good and ready to go. I want to say ‘I’m ready and I can be your guy.’” It explains why Beatty has not made any waves to this point in free agency. The Broncos and Raiders have already made their moves on the offensive line, but the veteran tackle should garner interest once he is ready.

ESPN originally reported Beatty worked out for the Giants but quickly corrected its mistake. Now 33, Beatty has not made an NFL start since 2014. He has just seven appearances over the past three seasons. It’s hard to see how he would make anything better in New York. Beatty was part of a large group of linemen to work out on Tuesday.

Beatty was facing long odds of returning this season after undergoing surgery last Thursday. It’s a big blow to a Giants line that made a struggling Saints pass rush look good on Monday evening, and again failed to get any push in the run game. For now, David Diehl will serve as Eli Manning’s blindside protector. Beatty is signed cheaply through 2012, but the Giants may look for an upgrade in the draft. He was incredibly inconsistent in 10 starts.

Including the playoffs, Beatty missed the Giants’ final 10 games. He was inconsistent before going down, particularly in pass protection, but David Diehl was arguably worse in his absence. Set to make just $565,000 in 2012, Beatty should be back with the G-Men, probably as their starting left tackle.

Beatty could end up on injured reserve, but the Giants won’t have a timetable for his return until after his operation. Pro Football Focus has graded Beatty as below average at left tackle this season, so his loss shouldn’t be a crippling blow for the Giants. Stacy Andrews and LG David Diehl are both candidates to protect Eli Manning’s blindside during Beatty’s absence.

Beatty has missed both of the Giants’ preseason games, and is sounding shaky for Week 1. The Newark Star-Ledger believes RT David Diehl would shift to the blindside with Sean Locklear at right tackle if Beatty isn’t ready for the regular season. Beatty’s back woes date back to the beginning of the offseason.

“The best remedy was time,” Beatty said of the offseason back injury he suffered while weightlifting. Barring a setback, Beatty will open the season as Eli Manning’s blindside protector after starting 10 games in 2011.

William Beatty’s back has continued to give him trouble and he’ll be available only to play tight end in jumbo packages. We’d call it a concern for the New York passing game -- particularly facing DeMarcus Ware -- but the Giants did just fine with a below-average left tackle (David Diehl) for most of last season. Locklear outplayed Diehl in camp, and Diehl will start at right tackle.

“He practiced a little bit,” was all coach Tom Coughlin would offer up for comment. The Giants’ season opener is just eight days away, but it’s looking like Beatty will be ready after missing a majority of camp.

Beatty’s back woes slowed him throughout OTAs and minicamp, but he doesn’t sound like a candidate to begin camp on the active/PUP list. That’s not a guarantee his issues won’t resurface, of course. Second-year pro James Brewer and journeyman vet Sean Locklear are behind Beatty on the depth chart.