Giants RB Shane Vereen To Have Season-Ending Triceps Surgery

The New York Giants have had several players suffer injuries in recent months, although they have now lost their first for the remainder of the 2016-2017 season.

Giants RB Shane Vereen To Have Season-Ending Triceps Surgery

Running back Shane Vereen is expected to miss the rest of the season due to a triceps issue he sustained in Sunday’s 29-27 home loss to the Washington Redskins. The injury will require surgery, Giants coach Ben McAdoo stated.

Vereen’s recovery time is estimated at six to eight weeks, and NFL Network’s Mike Garofalo disputed McAdoo’s statement by saying the 27-year-old rusher may not actually be out for the rest of the season.

Vereen signed a three-year,$12.35 million free agent deal with the Giants in the summer of 2015 after catching 11 Tom Brady passes in Super Bowl XLIX for the champion New England Patriots. On Sunday, the running back lost a fumble for the second consecutive week after starting in place of the injured Rashad Jennings (left wrist, thumb), which seems unusual for a sixth-year veteran who had lost only one fumble through the first 58 games of his career prior to this season.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, however, that there is some hope that Jennings could return soon.

“Shane is a tremendous football player,” McAdoo,39, said in his weekly conference call. “Our thoughts go to him with that tough injury. I feel for the player. He’s a good football player, and I wish him a speedy recovery.”

Vereen finished with 31 rushing attempts for 147 yards and a touchdown this year. He didn’t address the media after Sunday’s game because he had to see the team doctor. McAdoo said he didn’t “know for sure” whether or not Vereen’s fumbling was connected to his injury, but added: “I think he was playing with (the injury) for a significant amount of time.”

Last year, in his first year with New York, Vereen finished with the second-most receptions (59) on the roster behind only wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (96). This season, as of Monday, Vereen was tied with Jennings for a team-high 31 carries, along with eight catches for 75 yards as the Giants’ top pass-catching back.

The bulk of Vereen’s third-down duties will probably be handed down to five-year veteran Bobby Rainey. Rainey caught a screen pass for 24 yards against the Redskins on Sunday.

Fortunately, the Giants added depth to their running game this offseason. Orleans Darkwa had a great, 53-yard performance (10 carries) against Washington on Sunday and rookie Paul Perkins is still on the bench.

The Giants roster is marked by several other injuries. Charlotte, N.C. specialist determined that rookie safety Darian Thompson (left foot) does not require surgery on the injury that sidelined him from Sunday’s game. Thompson will remain in a boot and will continue to be evaluated on a week-to-week basis. McAdoo said it was too early to rule out corners Eli Apple (hamstring) and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin) from Week 4 due to injuries they sustained against Washington Sunday. Bobby Hart would start a second consecutive game at right tackle following a pretty good Week 3 performance if Marshall Newhouse (calf) once again can’t go.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 18: Shane Vereen #34 of the New York Giants runs with the ball against New Orleans Saints during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium on September 18, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)