New York Giants cornerback Jayron Hosley has been impressive in training camp and in the preseason. In the Giants 26-3 win over the New York Jets on Saturday night, Hosley picked off a Mark Sanchez pass and returned it 77 yards for a touchdown to give the Giants a 13-0 lead. However, Hosley injured his foot on the return and was seen in a walking boot after the game.
After the game Hosley insisted it wasn’t a major injury and that the boot was only a precaution but Hosley couldn’t say exactly what that injury was. After several tests, it appears Hosley’s injury is a turf toe-like injury.
Turf toe is essentially a sprain to the soft tissue surrounding the joint of the big toe. It can be an extremely nagging injury and cause a player to miss a couple of weeks of practice and games. The best cure for turf toe is rest which means Hosley might be in a walking boot for a couple of weeks. If that is the case, it might hinder the progress he has made in his campaign to become the Giants’ third cornerback.
If proper steps are not taken, turf toe can reoccur over time. It could be something as simple as changing shoes to support the foot more, but if preventive steps are not taken or if Hosley tries to hit the field too early he could set himself back another 2-4 weeks.
The Giants love what Hosley brings to the table and should not push the rookie too much. Having him healthy for the start of the regular season should be the Giants’ highest priority. He gives the Giants a weapon they haven’t had since Jason Sehorn, a ballhawk cornerback who can take any interception and return it for a score.
Hosley also figured to be a factor on punt returns for the Giants this season. Obviously, this injury will force the Giants to keep looking for someone to stabilize their return game, something that has been an issue for the Giants for years. Jerrel Jernigan might get more time returning punts with Hosley out but so far, Jernigan has had an issue with catching punts cleanly and that can quickly land you in Coach Tom Coughlin’s doghouse.
If Hosley does indeed have turf toe the best thing for him and the Giants is to rest it and allow him to return at one hundred percent. There is a very good chance that if Hosley doesn’t rush it he will be ready to return for the regular season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. In the meantime, the Giants will have to hope no other injuries befall their secondary as they wait to see the progress Terrell Thomas is making in rehabbing his ACL. There is also safety Tyler Sash’s 4-game suspension to worry about which will take effect in Week 1. Another injury might force the Giants to bring in some help from the outside, possibly old friend Deon Grant.
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