For every optimistic prediction about Brandon Jacobs' numbers for 2007, there were an equal number of warnings about his susceptibility to lower-body injuries due to his upright running style and tendency not to shy away from contact.

That didn't take long, did it?

The early word on the street is a torn MCL, but the extent of the injury should become clear later today. Not to be outdone, Osi Umenyiora also suffered a non-specific knee-injury and his status is uncertain. Elijah banged up his shoulder and yielded the last drive of the game to the Hefty Lefty, but he's fine.

This entire game was like everything awful about the 2006 season all rolled into sixty minutes - a slew of devastating injuries and a flaccid secondary. Seriously, you're not supposed score 35 points and lose the game (although this time, none of it was really Sam Madison's fault.) On the plus side, Eli and Plax look like they could play catch in the dark, and Derrick Ward filled in admirably, although I remember last year when Ward broke his foot during the preseason while he was (and I'm quoting here) moving between two rooms. So I don't know what to expect from him in terms of durability.

My fingers are crossed on Jacobs, but I'm prepared to hear that he'll be missing the entire 2007-2008 season, par for the course for a Giants team that's placed more players on the IR in the past five years than anyone else in the NFL. Ward splits carries with Dreughns, and as if it wasn't entirely on Elijah's shoulders already, he will almost single-handedly determine whether or not New York can salvage this season. It's scary seeing the word salvage in Week 1, isn't it?