Strahan out 2-4 weeks

[124]

Strahan to miss 2-4 weeks

By Len Pasquarelli

ESPN.com

A New York Giants defense already thinned by injuries suffered another setback Monday morning when an MRI and a CAT scan confirmed that left end Michael Strahan sustained a sprain to the Lisfranc ligament of his right foot during Sunday's victory over the Houston Texans.

The damage is not quite as serious as in some Lisfranc injuries, which are often ligament tears which require surgery, but Strahan will be on crutches for at least a week. No surgery is required, but Giants' head trainer Ronnie Barnes said in a statement released by the team that "a reasonable timeframe for [strahan's] possible return" would be 2-4 weeks.

But such mid-foot injuries are dicey and unpredictable and a return by Strahan even in a month might be a bit optimistic. Some players who have suffered Lisfranc injuries, even those not requiring surgical repair, have been sidelined for months as they rehabilitated from the sprain.

Tests on both Sunday and Monday revealed no broken bones in the foot. Strahan will be re-examined next week to gauge his progress in recovery.

The injury occurred in the second quarter when Strahan said his foot simply got caught in the FieldTurf surface at Giants Stadium. He left the game, did not return, and exited the stadium wearing a protective walking boot on the foot.

New York, which has won five straight games and hosts Chicago in a big NFC showdown next Sunday night, is already without several other defensive starters. Strongside linebacker LaVar Arrington is out for the season after rupturing his left Achilles tendon two weeks ago. Right end Osi Umenyiora, who along with Strahan made the Pro Bowl in 2005, missed Sunday's game with a hip flexor and his status for the game with the Bears has not yet been determined. Cornerback Sam Madison (hamstring), defensive end Jason Tuck (foot) and linebacker Brandon Short (quadriceps) all missed Sunday's 14-10 victory.

First-round draft choice Mathias Kiwanuka filled in for Umenyiora on Sunday and played well. But if Umenyiora is unable to play next Sunday, the Giants will face the Bears minus both starting ends. They could be forced to start the inexperienced Adrian Awasom, a former practice squad player. Awasom filled in after Strahan left against the Texans and made two tackles.

Strahan, 34, is a seven-time Pro Bowl performer. The 14-year veteran has 132