Bad News for the New York (Football) Giants: Kiwanuka May Be Out for the Season

"Indefinite" timelines for injuries are never a good thing, usually signaling that the end of the player's season is near. Giants' Mathias Kiwanuka reportedly got that news today as ESPN New York reports that the herniated cervical disk in his neck will send to him to Injured Reserve, ending his season. The Blue Screen wonders if this means the end of Kiwi's Giants career as well.

Mathias Kiwanuka is done for the season (Star-Ledger)

This is not good news for a Giants team that we discussed more fully earlier is a team with a great record, but is a team with holes. It's a really sad end for a guy who has showed so much promise as a Giant. Through the first three games, Kiwi had 4 sacks, leading the Giants team and was an extremely versatile player in Perry Fewell's new defense, playing end, linebacker and even tackle. He was "The Guy" on defense and looked to be in the middle of a monster season. It looked like he was willing to rehab and come back this season. And his willingness to be flexible could have been invaluable for the Giants going forward. But it was reported that after speaking to Antonio Pierce whose career ended after a similar injury, Kiwanuka realized it wasn't worth rushing back and risking further injury.

This isn't the first time that an injury has derailed one of Kiwi's seasons; in November of 2007 the Giants placed him on IR as well after fracturing his left fibula. The Giants would, of course, go on to win the Super Bowl that year without Kiwanuka. This year their depth will certainly be tested without his presence.

To replace Kiwi on the roster, the Giants will reportedly sign former Packer DB Will Blackmon who worked out for Big Blue yesterday. Why they wouldn't just cut the inept Darius Reynaud is mind boggling, but Blackmon at least gives them another (read: better) option at kick and punt returner. The G-men seemed to come into the season believing that D.J. Ware was going to be the kickoff returner and Aaron Ross was going to return punts until Reynaud showed up. It seems that Blackmon will now take over some of those duties.

In good news, the Giants wide receivers (Jet Blue, if you will) have been receiving praise this week as ESPN's Matt Mosley says they may be the best wide receiving trio in the league and Hakeem Nicks made ESPN's  MVP Watch this past week. High praise for a group of receivers who at this time last year was seen as questionable and without a true threat (ie--without Plaxico Burress). But on the other side of the ball, they'll definitely miss the linebacker/end from Boston College as he hits IR.