Jun 16, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants tackle Ereck Flowers (76) takes part in practice during minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Steven Ryan-USA TODAY Sports
In Week 1, New York Giants rookie left tackle Ereck Flowers played through an ankle injury he suffered during the game. After an MRI this week revealed no further damage, Flowers was back at practice and ready to play through the injury. This caught the attention of head coach Tom Coughlin.
"Well, basically he said, 'I'm playing and I'm practicing,' " Coughlin said of Flowers, per ESPN. "It's a breath of fresh air. Guy has an ankle? Oh, well. I started talking to him on Tuesday. 'I'm practicing.' And he did."
Coughlin is an old school football coach. He doesn't like how the new wave of players often approach returning from injuries by erring on the side of caution.
"I don't know, but can we have a few more?" Coughlin said, when asked if it was unusual for a rookie to tell his coach that he is practicing in spite of an injury. "Whether they're rookies or veterans or whoever they are."
The Giants desperately need Flowers to suit up in Week 2 and beyond. The rookie struggled in pass protection in his NFL debut, but he graded out very positively as a run blocker, per Pro Football Focus. If he is forced to miss time, the Giants will likely have to turn to Justin Pugh or Marshall Newhouse to fill in at left tackle. Injured incumbent starter Will Beatty isn't expected back until October at the earliest.
(h/t ESPN)
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