EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – After a breakout 2012 campaign for New York Giants’ safety Stevie Brown, his 2013 was abruptly cut short in the team’s 24-21 loss to the New York Jets on Saturday night.
Brown, who was second in the league in 2012 with eight interceptions, suffered a torn ACL as he was attempting to cut following a second-quarter interception on Jets rookie’ quarterback Geno Smith.
He was placed on the team’s season-ending injured reserved list Sunday.
“I feel bad for Stevie,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “He has been a tremendous addition to our team. The guy has another interception and then has that happen. We’ll definitely miss him.”
A seventh-round selection in the 2010 draft out of the University of Michigan, Brown bounced around from the Oakland Raiders to the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts in his first two seasons. He started 11 games for the Giants last season on his way to earning Pro Bowl honors.
Antrel Rolle is still the teams’ other starting safety, despite being limited throughout training camp with a sprained ankle. He’s expected to be ready to open the regular season. After Rolle and Brown, however, the Giants’ depth at the safety position is anything but deep.
Free agent signing Ryan Mundy is likely to assume Brown’s safety duties. In four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers Mundy has played in 64 games tallying 139 tackles, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception.
An intriguing move for the Giants to ponder will be bringing back former safety Kenny Phillips. A 41-game starter from 2008-2012, Phillips was released by the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday after not playing the teams’ previous two preseason games. A Pro Bowl-caliber safety early in his career, Phillips has lost a step because of chronic knee injuries. He’s currently nursing a quadriceps issue.
The team tried to bring back Phillips in free agency, but Brown’s breakout season took away any leverage for Phillips.
The major hurdle to overcome will be whether the Giants believe he can be a healthy contributing asset to defensive coordinator Perry Fewell’s secondary.
