Giants Notebook: Tough decisions for Tom Coughlin in cutting to 75

The Giants" data-canon="New York Jets" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" id="shortcode0"> will cut their roster from 90 players to 75 on Monday, and while he says it every year, coach Tom Coughlin has some very difficult decisions to make. The persistent injury issues at defensive tackle and cornerback have only served to exacerbate the situation in several ways.

First, the clouded statuses of defensive tackles Shaun Rogers (blood clot), Chris Canty (knee, PUP) and Marvin Austin (back) coupled with the injuries to cornerbacks Terrell Thomas (knee), Jayron Hosley (foot) and Prince Amukamara (ankle) have hurt the Giants’ ability to gauge how many players they need at each position.

Second -- and this is the part that really annoys Coughlin -- the Giants have been forced to adjust their preseason game plans to account for all of the injuries. So, for instance, if the Giants don’t have enough cornerbacks to play dime coverage, Coughlin can’t evaluate how his team plays with four cornerbacks in the game at one time.

“It’s very, very difficult,” Coughlin said after Sunday’s practice. “First and foremost you have an obligation to play the games that are in preseason. … So if you have an injury or two at a spot, it affects what you’re going to do. It makes it a difficult, anxious kind of a thing.

“You walk out there, things pretty much set in your mind, something happens, and you've got to adjust,” he added.

Tyler Sash goes down with ankle injury: Second-year safety Tyler Sash was carted off the field Sunday, but Coughlin didn’t have any information beyond “his ankle locked up.”

Sash is already suspended for the first four regular-season games (violation of the league’s PED policy) so it’s unlikely that the team would rush him back onto the field.

Osi Umenyiora sits while Jason Pierre-Paul and Will Beatty improve: Umenyiora’s surgically repaired knee swelled, so the Giants decided to hold him out of Sunday’s practice. Coughlin said it was strictly precautionary. Umenyiora has not missed a practice yet this season.

Meanwhile, Coughlin is happy with the progress of Pierre-Paul and Beatty, both of whom are dealing with back issues.

Pierre-Paul’s sore back is mild, and it’s something he endures every preseason, so there’s not much concern. However, Beatty’s back had been a sore subject until Sunday, when the left tackle began working with some trainers on the sideline.

However, Coughlin cautioned everyone that real progress depends on how Beatty feels “afterwards.”

Will Hakeem Nicks play in the preseason? Nicks (foot) hasn’t suffered any setbacks since coming off PUP, so he was hoping to have a chance to play in at least one preseason game before the regular-season opener. However, Coughlin isn’t ready to give Nicks a green light for Wednesday’s game against the New England Patriots.

“We've got another practice to go, and then we’ll make a call on that,” Coughlin said. “He practiced pretty close to full speed today. He did a great job after the catch with turning and running. Those are the things we need to see and then see how he feels a little bit afterwards.”

One year later, linebacker is a strength: A year ago, the Giants were worried they wouldn’t have enough linebackers. Now, they might have too many.

“You can never have too many good players,” Coughlin said. “That’s one that you would look forward to. If you have that much competition, that’s a good thing. That’s what all spots should be like. I wish I could say that for every spot out there. The more competition the better off the players practice, focus, perform and then therefore you have a better opportunity to evaluate.”

The increased competition, coupled with Mathias Kiwanuka’s groin injury, allowed Jacquian Williams to get some time at strongside linebacker on Sunday. The second-year pro capitalized, making an interception.

Who didn’t practice? SLB/DE Mathias Kiwanuka (groin), WR Jerrel Jernigan (sore leg), Umenyiora (knee), Pierre-Paul (back), Beatty (back), Rogers (blood clot), Austin (back), DE Adrian Tracy (hamstring), Canty (knee, PUP), RG Chris Snee (sore leg), TE Travis Beckum (knee, PUP), WLB Michael Boley (hamstring), Hosley (foot), Amukamara (ankle) and Thomas (knee).

Hosley is out of his walking boot, which is a positive sign. Coughlin previously said he might begin light running this week.

Fourth-round pick OG Brandon Mosley (ankle) was limited at Sunday’s practice. Running back Ahmad Bradshaw (hand) worked but appeared to be limited as well.

Follow the Giants and Alex Raskin @CBSSportsNFLNYG and @AlexRaskinNYC.