It appears Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. has avoided a severe injury after he had to be carted off the field during Tuesday’s practice.
Tracy, the team’s fifth-round draft pick out of Purdue, had his right ankle fitted with an air cast and was sent to the Hospital for Special Surgery in Paramus, N.J. to undergo further testing.
But he was back at the team’s practice facility and attending meetings later in the afternoon.
Tracy is believed to have suffered a lower ankle sprain, but the injury initially looked far worse.
Tracy had muffed a kickoff and went down untouched — and in visible pain — while attempting to recover the ball.
“Oh man, very difficult,” veteran running Devin Singletary said after practice. “We put a lot into this. You can’t really prevent injuries in this game. It’s a 100 percent injury rate, but you always hate to see one of your brothers go down. We don’t know exactly what’s going on, but we hate to see him go down.”
Tracy is competing with Eric Gray for the second and third running back spots behind Singletary after leading rusher Saquon Barkley departed in the offseason as a free agent.
A long-term injury for Tracy could have opened a roster spot for undrafted rookie Dante “Turbo” Miller and/or prompted the Giants to sign another running back.
Tracy, who also is seen as a potential kick returner, rushed for 26 yards on five carries in the preseason opener last Thursday against the Lions.
“A lot of potential,” Singletary said of Tracy. “Coming in as a rookie, playing the way he’s been playing. I would say he hasn’t really been playing like a rookie. He’s been like a second or third-year player, the way he’s been performing. Of course, he still has room to grow, but he’s off to a good start.”
Offensive linemen Evan Neal and John Michael Schmitz returned to team drills Tuesday after missing most of camp with injuries.
Schmitz was back at center with the first team, while Neal worked at right tackle with the second unit.
But starting guard Jon Runyan did not practice due a shoulder issue.
Head coach Brian Daboll said tight end Lawrence Cager “is going to be down for a little while” with a groin injury.
— Additional reporting by Paul Schwartz
