New York Giants

Giants' Ereck Flowers has ankle sprain, still on crutches

Published Dec. 8, 2015 9:12 a.m. ET

foxsports

Just when the New York Giants got one starting offensive lineman back from an ankle sprain in Week 13, they lost another to the same injury. Left tackle Ereck Flowers left the game in Week 13's 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Jets after injuring his left ankle, the same one he injured earlier this season, and he did not return.

On Monday, head coach Tom Coughlin confirmed that Flowers is on crutches. His status for Monday night's game against the Miami Dolphins is up in the air, but it would be difficult to image him suiting up based on how long it took center Weston Richburg to return from his ankle sprain.

"I don't have anything right in front of me, but it's another sprain," Coughlin said during his meeting with the media on Monday. "Perhaps like the one he had previously."

Flowers missed the Giants' Week 3 win over the Washington Redskins and most of their Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons with his last ankle sprain.

If Flowers is unavailable, the Giants will likely turn to left guard Justin Pugh to fill in at left tackle again. If right tackle Marshall Newhouse can return to action, the Giants could consider using Bobby Hart -- who started for Newhouse at right tackle in Week 13 -- at guard. Otherwise, the Giants will likely use John Jerry and Dallas Reynolds at the two guard spots.

Recent injuries to all five linemen who started the season, at various times, have played a key role in New York's inability to consistently move the ball on offense over the past two games.