The feel-good story of a season ago is back for another showing.
According to Mike Garafolo of the USA Today, New York Giants linebacker and cancer survivor Mark Herzlich will get the start at middle linebacker against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Chase Blackburn will reportedly miss the game due to a hamstring injury suffered in the Giants 29-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Herzlich battled a rare bone cancer -- Ewing’s sarcoma -- while playing at Boston College. The struggle to overcome cancer forced him to miss the entire 2009 season before returning to play all of 2010 for the Eagles. Herzlich played in 13 games and compiled 65 tackles, four interceptions, 3.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles in his senior campaign.
Herzlich went undrafted and was signed as a free agent by the Giants. Herzlich started two games for the Giants last season before a high-ankle sprain ultimately ended his year. He came into training camp this season expected to challenge Blackburn for the starting job but was slowed by a hip pointer suffered in the Giants second preseason game against the New York Jets.
Herzlich posted two tackles in relief of Blackburn last week and has just seven tackles on the year primarily in special teams duty.