Mathias Kiwanuka's injury nothing more than a scare for New York Giants
In the locker room following the Giants' season opener against the Redskins last night, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo stopped by Mathias Kiwanuka's locker, anxious to check on the health of his starting right defensive end.
As time expired on the Giants' 16-7 victory against their NFC East opponents, Washington tackle Chris Samuels fell on Kiwanuka, who lingered on the ground with pain in his left ankle. But afterward, Kiwanuka said the X-rays were negative and he was ably walking around the locker room -- encouraging news for a defense that lost defensive end Osi Umenyiora for the season less than two weeks ago.
"When he went down, I know you were just like me: 'Aw, get out of here. Not again,'" defensive end Justin Tuck said to Spagnuolo.
Kiwanuka repeatedly said that he was fine in postgame interviews, and that he would have to watch the game tape to see what happened on the play, on which Samuels was called for holding. But Tuck questioned Samuels' motives.
"I did see it, and he was pulled down," Tuck said. "... You never think a guy's out there trying to hurt another guy, but it happened and we move on from it. ... Obviously it ruffled some feathers."
It was a nerve-wracking ending to a game in which the defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, setting the tone for a solid defensive performance. The unit surrendered just one score to the Redskins, a 12-yard touchdown catch by Santana Moss in the final seconds of the first half.
In the locker room following the Giants' season opener against the Redskins last night, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo stopped by Mathias Kiwanuka's locker, anxious to check on the health of his starting right defensive end.
As time expired on the Giants' 16-7 victory against their NFC East opponents, Washington tackle Chris Samuels fell on Kiwanuka, who lingered on the ground with pain in his left ankle. But afterward, Kiwanuka said the X-rays were negative and he was ably walking around the locker room -- encouraging news for a defense that lost defensive end Osi Umenyiora for the season less than two weeks ago.
"When he went down, I know you were just like me: 'Aw, get out of here. Not again,'" defensive end Justin Tuck said to Spagnuolo.
Kiwanuka repeatedly said that he was fine in postgame interviews, and that he would have to watch the game tape to see what happened on the play, on which Samuels was called for holding. But Tuck questioned Samuels' motives.
"I did see it, and he was pulled down," Tuck said. "... You never think a guy's out there trying to hurt another guy, but it happened and we move on from it. ... Obviously it ruffled some feathers."
It was a nerve-wracking ending to a game in which the defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, setting the tone for a solid defensive performance. The unit surrendered just one score to the Redskins, a 12-yard touchdown catch by Santana Moss in the final seconds of the first half.
