Not that it’s a race to get back on the field, but of the Giants’ two tight ends who suffered torn ACLs in the Super Bowl, Travis Beckum is way ahead of Jake Ballard. Beckum is hopeful that he can fully recover in seven months and play in Week One. Ballard, who needed microfracture surgery, may not play at all in 2012.
Beckum calls Ballard his “ACL buddy” but says they’re really recovering from different injuries and are on different timelines because Ballard required a surgical procedure with a longer recovery time.
“It sucks but it’s a part of the game,” Beckum told Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger. “Obviously, I’m mentally here for Jake and we kind of push each other.”
Ballard says he wants to play this year, but if the Super Bowl injury costs him the entire 2012 season, he’ll just be that much more motivated to play in 2013.
“A lot of people have ACLs and miss a year,” Ballard said. “Why should I be lucky enough that I don’t miss the whole entire year? I can’t do anything [about it] now. I’m past that. I’m hurt. I’m trying to get better.”
And he’ll have to keep trying when the regular-season starts, likely still rehabbing while watching Beckum play.