EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- As New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning prepares to start the season with a new center for the second year in a row, the man pegged for the job is having a tough time staying on the field.
Second-year offensive lineman Weston Richburg, who started at left guard as a rookie but is slated to be the Giants' starting center this year, missed practice Tuesday due to an ongoing problem with his left knee. Richburg missed a few practices two weeks ago, when he had a cortisone shot in the knee, and he came out of Saturday night's preseason game earlier than the rest of the first-team offensive line did.
This isn't likely the kind of injury that would sideline Richburg or keep him out of regular-season games. But it's an issue worth monitoring. And as with the rest of the very young players on whom the 2015 Giants are counting in crucial spots, missed practice time is not a great thing for Richburg.
Speaking of young guys and missed practice time, rookie safety Landon Collins says his knee is feeling better and he's eager to get back on the field. Giants coach Tom Coughlin said Collins would return to practice on a limited basis Tuesday, but he didn't appear to work much, if at all, and he did not appear in team drills.
"I feel great," Collins said a couple of hours before the practice in which he didn't participate. "I'm ready to get back on the field. Just take it day by day. Hopefully get practicing today or tomorrow."
The Giants are counting on Collins to start at one of their safety spots even though he's a rookie. They're also hoping second-year safety Nat Berhe can recover from the calf injury he's had all summer and practice soon. Jeromy Miles, who signed just before camp, and Brandon Meriweather, who signed last week, were the Giants' first-team safeties in practice Tuesday.
