By PFW staff
Aug. 24, 2008

The Giants took a major blow Saturday night when Pro Bowl DE Osi Umenyiora suffered a torn lateral meniscus and will miss the entire season, the team announced.

Umenyiora suffered the injury in the Giants’ preseason game against the Jets. Team physician Dr. Russell Warren performed an MRI Sunday morning, which revealed the tear. Umenyiora will undergo season-ending surgery on Tuesday.

The Giants now are expected to move forward without their starting ends from their Super Bowl season. There have been reports that Strahan could return to the team now, but New York Daily News’ Ralph Vacchiano quoted a source close to Strahan who said it would be “doubtful” to see the retired end return to the NFL.

The Giants have some options up front, but the depth quickly has fallen off. They could move Mathias Kiwanuka, the starting strong-side linebackers who plays end in nickel situations, back to end full time. That move, of course, would open a spot at linebacker, where there questions as well. If that happened, LBs Danny Clark and rookie Bryan Kehl would be the most likely replacements for Kiwanuka.

Natural DEs Renaldo Wynn and Dave Tollefson, who has caught the coaches’ eyes this summer, could rotate at Umenyiora’s vacated DRE spot.