Adalia blog

OT Shawn Andrews missed practice with back issue

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – There's another injury on the New York Giants' offensive line.

Tackle Shawn Andrews, who has replaced the injured David Diehl at left tackle, missed practice on Wednesday with an undisclosed back problem.

Coach Tom Coughlin did not mention Andrews' injury during his morning news conference.

Second-year pro Will Beatty, who just returned to the lineup on Sunday after being sidelined since the season opener with a broken foot, would be the logical choice to replace Andrews.

A former Pro Bowler with the Philadelphia Eagles, Andrews was signed by the Giants at the end of training camp.

The Giants (6-3) will face the Eagles (6-3) on Sunday night in Philadelphia.

Doctors had no good news for Coughlin on the status of Diehl (hamstring-hip) and center Shaun O'Hara (foot), who both did not practice on Wednesday.

Steve Smith, who set a single-season team record for receptions last season with 107, will not play on Sunday. He partially tore a pectoral muscle in practice on Thursday.

"It's probably going to be a couple of weeks," said Smith, who hopes to return against Washington on Dec. 5. "It was a crazy freakish accident."

Smith said he was hurt making a catch in an awkward position.

"I just fell on it, like a normal fall," said Smith, who had 47 catches for 517 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Starting cornerback Corey Webster was limited by a toe injury.