EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Halfback Brandon Jacobs is going to miss the New York Giants game against Dallas on Sunday with a knee injury, and that may add a new element to New York’s backfield.
It’s “Water,” otherwise known as second-year pro Danny Ware.
Jacobs and backups Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw have dubbed themselves “Earth, Wind and Fire” with the 6-foot-4, 264-pound Jacobs being “Earth.”
Jacobs, who has team highs of 1,002 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns, aggravated his left knee in Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and did not practice this week.
“We just don’t think he will be ready,” coach Tom Coughlin said after practice on Friday.
Ward (“Wind”) will replace him in the starting lineup, with Bradshaw (“Fire”) backing him up.
Ware, who has never carried the ball in an NFL regular-season game, probably will be the third back if Coughlin decides to dress him, although there is an outside chance the coach could use veteran Reuben Droughns.
A former 1,000-yard rusher with Cleveland, Droughns has played on special teams in 11 games. Ware has appeared in three games.
Jacobs and Ward refused to talk about the injury Friday. Bradshaw answered a question from one reporter, then ran from his locker when he saw others approaching.
Ware was thrilled to talk about carrying the ball for the first time in a game that counted since his days at Georgia.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “I just hope and pray that I get the chance to go in. I have been wanting to go out there and show everybody what I can do since preseason. I felt pretty good about the preseason and had a positive finish. I just want to pick up where I left off.”
The Giants have run the ball well no matter who has carried it. Ward has gained 669 yards on 138 carries, an average of 4.8 yards per carry. Bradshaw has averaged 5.9 yards on 54 carries.
Ware thinks he will fit in with the backfield’s persona.
“I call myself ‘Water,”’ he said. “I think I can be slippery and break away from tackles a bit. Then again, if I need to run up somebody, I can turn into a solid. Maybe, maybe, (I can) evaporate and fly away from somebody. I have all three qualities.”
Ware also has been listed as the No. 2 kickoff returner for the game behind Sinorice Moss.
“We feel we can pull out either one of us and we can get the job done, go out there behind the line we have and get the job done,” Ware said. “Everybody is confident. Everyone has their own swag. Everybody is ready to go out there and take control.”
Domenik Hixon, who has replaced suspended receiver Plaxico Burress in the starting lineup, said he would be ready to go Sunday despite practicing on a limited basis Friday because of foot and ankle injuries. Hixon also missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. He has been listed as questionable.
The Giants added defensive tackle Fred Robbins (shoulder) to their injury report and listed him as questionable.
Rookie backup linebacker Jonathan Goff was ruled out for the third straight week with a hamstring injury.
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