Key Giants reserve DT Jay Alford will miss the entire season following surgery to repair the ACL and MCL ligaments in his knee.

"It's a blow to our team," head coach Tom Coughlin said. "That's a guy that had played well and had given evidence that he would play well."

Alford also snaps on field-goal and extra-point attempts, a job that should be handled now by Zak DeOssie.

The Giants appeared to have an embarrassment of riches on the defensive line when training camp started, but injuries to Fred Robbins, Rocky Bernard, Chris Canty and Alford left the unit more thin than expected. Bernard and Robbins are back, and Canty (hamstring) is limited, though he might be able to play in Week One vs. the Redskins.