Osi Umenyiora is out. Now comes the hard part: For how long?
The Giants said the surprise, but not shocking, arthroscopic procedure Umenyiora underwent yesterday on his right knee was a routine cleaning out — they call it “a simple debridement” — and that he will miss 3-4 weeks. That makes it likely he will miss the Sept. 11 season opener, 23 days from today in Washington.
However — there usually is a “however” in this ongoing saga — a source close to Umenyiora said the recovery time is more like 4-6 weeks, which, the source said, “is usual for a knee for a pass-rusher who twists and turns.”
The timeframe for a return may vary, but the reality that Umenyiora is not ready to take his place as the starting right defensive end is undeniable. He made it through just three practices before swelling in the knee prompted him to opt for surgery now rather than push forward having to sit out every other practice attempting to manage the condition.
“It was better to do it now as opposed to midseason,” Umenyiora said in a statement released by the team. “It was going to have to be done, the only question was when. If I’m going to miss a little while, I would prefer it be now than at the crucial part of our season. It’s the best decision for the team and myself.”
Umenyiora created many headlines this summer before the knee ever surfaced as an issue. He missed the first day of training camp because of an ongoing and bitter contract dispute, claiming general manager Jerry Reese had previously promised him a lucrative new deal or a trade.
The Giants granted permission to Tony Agnone, Umenyiora’s agent, to find a trade partner, setting the price tag at a first-round draft pick. After 48 hours, the Giants rescinded the offer. Umenyiora — who has two years and $7.1 million left on his contract — showed up but did not practice the first two weeks of training camp, claiming his right knee was hurting. The rampant speculation was Umenyiora’s ego was hurting because his demands for a new contract or a trade were not met.
The Giants’ medical staff checked out Umenyiora and determined the knee condition could be managed with rest and treatment and surgery was not immediately needed. Umenyiora went to Atlanta to see a knee specialist, whose second opinion agreed with the Giants’ evaluation.
But Umenyiora could not make it through the week.
“Osi called me at the end of the day [Thursday] to let me know he wanted to have the surgery now,” Reese said. “Osi’s feeling is he wants to get it cleaned up now because he is looking forward to playing this season and he wants to do it without the knee being an issue for him. He told me how much he really enjoyed being back on the field this week and he’s looking forward to getting back out there once he recovers from the procedure.”
Ronnie Barnes, the Giants vice president of medical services, called the procedure — performed by team physician Dr. Russell Warren at the Hospital for Special Surgery — “a simple debridement,” which means a flushing out of any loose bodies that may have been causing inflammation and swelling. Umenyiora has a history of cartilage issues in his right knee dating back to college, and he missed the entire 2008 season following surgery on his left knee.
Second-year defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who had two sacks in less than one quarter subbing for Umenyiora in the preseason opener, will slide into a starting role, with Dave Tollefson moving up in the rotation. Mathias Kiwanuka, a natural defensive end, will stay at linebacker. Coach Tom Coughlin said he won’t give up hope Umenyiora will be ready for the season opener.
“Maybe he comes back fast,” Coughlin said. “Maybe it’s three weeks.”
Coughlin said he is hopeful that once Umenyiora is healed the controversies of the offseason will fade away.
“Well, hopefully that’s behind us and he’s now focused on making a huge contribution to our team this year,” he said. “Get healthy and do it.”
The Giants said the surprise, but not shocking, arthroscopic procedure Umenyiora underwent yesterday on his right knee was a routine cleaning out — they call it “a simple debridement” — and that he will miss 3-4 weeks. That makes it likely he will miss the Sept. 11 season opener, 23 days from today in Washington.
However — there usually is a “however” in this ongoing saga — a source close to Umenyiora said the recovery time is more like 4-6 weeks, which, the source said, “is usual for a knee for a pass-rusher who twists and turns.”
The timeframe for a return may vary, but the reality that Umenyiora is not ready to take his place as the starting right defensive end is undeniable. He made it through just three practices before swelling in the knee prompted him to opt for surgery now rather than push forward having to sit out every other practice attempting to manage the condition.
“It was better to do it now as opposed to midseason,” Umenyiora said in a statement released by the team. “It was going to have to be done, the only question was when. If I’m going to miss a little while, I would prefer it be now than at the crucial part of our season. It’s the best decision for the team and myself.”
Umenyiora created many headlines this summer before the knee ever surfaced as an issue. He missed the first day of training camp because of an ongoing and bitter contract dispute, claiming general manager Jerry Reese had previously promised him a lucrative new deal or a trade.
The Giants granted permission to Tony Agnone, Umenyiora’s agent, to find a trade partner, setting the price tag at a first-round draft pick. After 48 hours, the Giants rescinded the offer. Umenyiora — who has two years and $7.1 million left on his contract — showed up but did not practice the first two weeks of training camp, claiming his right knee was hurting. The rampant speculation was Umenyiora’s ego was hurting because his demands for a new contract or a trade were not met.
The Giants’ medical staff checked out Umenyiora and determined the knee condition could be managed with rest and treatment and surgery was not immediately needed. Umenyiora went to Atlanta to see a knee specialist, whose second opinion agreed with the Giants’ evaluation.
But Umenyiora could not make it through the week.
“Osi called me at the end of the day [Thursday] to let me know he wanted to have the surgery now,” Reese said. “Osi’s feeling is he wants to get it cleaned up now because he is looking forward to playing this season and he wants to do it without the knee being an issue for him. He told me how much he really enjoyed being back on the field this week and he’s looking forward to getting back out there once he recovers from the procedure.”
Ronnie Barnes, the Giants vice president of medical services, called the procedure — performed by team physician Dr. Russell Warren at the Hospital for Special Surgery — “a simple debridement,” which means a flushing out of any loose bodies that may have been causing inflammation and swelling. Umenyiora has a history of cartilage issues in his right knee dating back to college, and he missed the entire 2008 season following surgery on his left knee.
Second-year defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who had two sacks in less than one quarter subbing for Umenyiora in the preseason opener, will slide into a starting role, with Dave Tollefson moving up in the rotation. Mathias Kiwanuka, a natural defensive end, will stay at linebacker. Coach Tom Coughlin said he won’t give up hope Umenyiora will be ready for the season opener.
“Maybe he comes back fast,” Coughlin said. “Maybe it’s three weeks.”
Coughlin said he is hopeful that once Umenyiora is healed the controversies of the offseason will fade away.
“Well, hopefully that’s behind us and he’s now focused on making a huge contribution to our team this year,” he said. “Get healthy and do it.”
