1. LB Jon Beason will miss the rest of 2014.

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The starting middle linebacker, who revisited foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, N.C. over the bye week, will require surgery and miss the remainder of the 2014 season. Beason has been dealing with a toe injury that caused him to miss Weeks 3-5 and forced him into an early exit against Dallas in the Giants' last game before the break.

"Hopefully, we're not going to lose anything in terms of his presence," coach Tom Coughlin said. "I think he's probably going to have to be away a little bit, but then he'll return and we'll have him in meetings, etc. I'm looking forward to that part, anyway."

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2. LB Jameel McClain moves to the middle; rookie Devon Kennard will be the backup.

Asked about how the team moves forward without Beason, Coughlin said, "We move McClain in there and keep going." Meanwhile, Kennard, who had an impressive training camp for a rookie, will have an impact on the rest of the season, although he may not be a starter.

"In our base defense, I've been playing the SAM linebacker spot and in the nickel, today I got some reps inside," Kennard said. "I don't know what the coach's plans are as it pertains to that yet."

3. RB Rashad Jennings ran today but not ready yet.

The sixth-year pro was off to a career year in his first season with the Giants before suffering a knee injury in Week 5 and missing the last two games. Jennings was able to do some light running on Monday, but Coughlin said his running back is "not ready to go" and is "day-to-day." Already fresh off the bye, Jennings and the Giants have an extra day to prepare for the Indianapolis game on Monday Night Football.

"It's progress," Jennings said. "When the time's right, I'm going to be out there as quick as I can. Nobody else wants me to play more than I do. The organization, Giants fans, everybody can rest assured I'm doing what I can do."

4. CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is improving.

Before the bye, Coughlin said it is going to be a "continuous kind of thing" in monitoring Rodgers-Cromartie, who is dealing with hamstring and back issues. The veteran corner was able to do some work on Monday.

"He was out there," Coughlin said. "Last week, we were encouraged because of the number of treatments that he got. We'll have to see." Coughlin was then asked if there was any sort of improvement. "I thought there was," he said. "He did some plays and took some plays where he didn't work. I think it's a little better than it was, but whether or not it's ready to be where we would want it to be, I don't know."

5. GM Jerry Reese: "This is a big moment for all of us."

The Giants' general manager spoke today at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center before the team embarks on the second leg of the season after the bye week.

"One thing I'll never do is…bet against Tom Coughlin," Reese said. "He always seems to have, when his back is against the wall the most, that's when he seems to come out swinging and gets his football team ready to go. And I expect him to do the same right here going down the stretch. This is a big moment for all of us, the second half of this season, and it starts one game at a time, one play at a time. And I think Coach will get it done."

**>> GM JERRY REESE ON THE STATE OF THE GIANTS**

6. The Giants have made and taken calls on linebacker depth before trade deadline.

Like every position, Reese keeps is keeping all of his options open at linebacker in the wake of Beason's season-ending injury.

With Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET trade deadline looming, Reese said, "I've been taking calls today, been making calls today. We keep all of our options open. We'll see what happens by 4 o'clock tomorrow."

7. Reese thinks the offense can be more aggressive.

While appreciating that a low turnover number often translates to wins, Reese thinks the offense can afford to be more aggressive down the stretch this season. The Giants are currently tied for 30th in the NFL with just 20 plays of 20 yards or longer.

"As an offense, I think we have to be more aggressive," Reese said. "I think, at times, we're a little bit almost too cautious with what we're doing offensively. And this is the National Football League. You've got to go out there; you've got to win the game. You can't think something is going to fall in your lap. You've got to go out and take the games."