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Linebacker Jon Beason practiced without limitations today and hopes to be in uniform for the first time this season Thursday night, when the Giants host the Washington Redskins.

"Players want to play," Beason said. "I don't want to give a play back, but you are smart enough to know that conditioning comes into effect, practice reps, getting that mental rep is important as well, so I'll play the best I can for the time that I have and that's my mentality going into it."

Beason has been sidelined with a knee sprain he suffered in a preseason game with Jacksonville a month ago today. He missed the first two regular-season games, and first-year pro Uani 'Unga started in his place at middle linebacker.

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Last week, his teammates voted Beason as the Giants' defensive captain for the second consecutive season. He is eager to return to the field to lead the defense, make plays and help the Giants earn their first victory of the season.

"I'm just looking for the nod, just looking for the nod, that's it," Beason said. "Going into the season, it was still sore and in years past I would risk it all for one play. You play in one game and you end of missing a lot more, so it was probably the smartest thing to do, maybe give something back early to gain a lot in the end."

Beason thought he had a chance to play last week but said the team's new practice schedule – which includes a recovery day on Fridays and a more uptempo workout Saturdays – might have worked against him.

"If I could have worked it more, I could get a chance to show that I am ready under some type of live action," Beason said. "Last week I didn't get that, unfortunately, so you go with the fact that, hey, we haven't seen you yet. But you feel good, and I know how important it is to practice and kind of move around a little bit, and then this week is kind of the same situation. I hope to play this week, I feel good, and hopefully I get the opportunity on Thursday."

If he does, Beason could enjoy a physical advantage. Thursday games are taxing for the players who performed on Sunday. Beason did little more than stand on the sideline, cheer for his team and help his defensive partners this past Sunday. He should be one of the more rested and pain-free players on the field.

"I'm in a different situation," Beason said. "I feel pretty good, I feel fresh. But I know my teammates are really sore, and Washington probably is as well."

Beason hopes to get a chance to add to that soreness on Thursday.

*Eli Manning said the short week presents the players with numerous challenges.

"Obviously, just getting the preparation, watching a lot of film," Manning said. "We know the personnel pretty well, but there's a new defensive coordinator (Joe Barry), so new scheme for Washington. (We're) just trying to watch as much film on them, see their tendencies, just see how they play certain coverages, what to expect, so we can have a good plan. Obviously, we have limited time to run a lot of the plays, lot of it is in walk-throughs. The only live thing we've done this week and will do is just a little seven-on-seven today with the pass game. Guys have got to be sharp on knowing where they're lining up, what they're doing and have a lot of walk-throughs to go over that kind of stuff, so we should be good in that category."

*Six Giants did not practice today: wide receiver Victor Cruz (calf), cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (concussion), tackle Ereck Flowers (ankle), defensive tackle Markus Kuhn (knee), tight end Jerome

Cunningham (knee) and defensive end Owa Odighizuwa (foot).

Defensive end Robert Ayers (hamstring) and defensive tackle Jay Bromley (knee) were limited.

In addition to Beason, defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins (hamstring), guard Geoff Schwartz (illness) and tight end Daniel Fells (foot) practiced fully.

*The Giants will wear their white pants with their blue jerseys Thursday night. They will also wear their white pants when they host New England on Nov. 15.

*The Giants are 14-7-3 on Thursdays, including 3-2 under Tom Coughlin.

*The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation will recognize Childhood Cancer Awareness Month at the Giants' home game Thursday vs. Washington.

Eight families of pediatric cancer patients will attend the game as special guests of the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund. They will watch the game from the Legacy Suite, and will wear special edition Jay Fund #GoGold T-shirts in honor of and in solidarity with all those tackling childhood cancer. Giants head coach and founder of the Jay Fund, Tom Coughlin, and his coaching staff will also sport his nonprofit's #GoGold pins to show their support. Coughlin has worn the pin during all September games. 

"The financial side effects of childhood cancer are becoming all too common for families whose sole focus should be helping their child get well," said Keli Coughlin, Executive Director of the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund. "We hope our efforts will increase awareness and we thank the Giants' coaches and organization for their support of the families who are dealing with the unthinkable across the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan region."

Prior to kick-off, one patient will join the captains of the Giants and Redskins for the opening coin toss ceremony.

The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation is joining with the national #GOGOLD campaign to raise awareness of this devastating disease. Coach Coughlin is asking individuals and communities to take his pledge to #BETHERE for families tackling childhood cancer in an effort to help increase visibility of the financial and emotional toll cancer takes on families, and to ensure that the Jay Fund will continue to #BETHERE so no one fights alone. Coach Coughlin has worn his #GOGOLD pin to recognize the month.
For more details, visit tcjayfund.org and follow the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund on all social media outlets by searching @tcjayfund.

About the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation
The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation was created in 1996 in honor of Jay McGillis. Jay was a special young man who developed leukemia while a member of Coach Coughlin's team at Boston College. In the eight months between Jay's diagnosis and the day he lost his battle with cancer, the Coughlin family saw first-hand the physical, emotional and financial strains the illness caused the McGillis family. After going through the tragic events with Jay's family, Coach Coughlin vowed that if he ever had the chance, he would create a way to help families with children battling cancer. Coach Coughlin kept his vow and started a foundation to BE THERE in Jay's honor providing financial and emotional support. Since then the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund has evolved in size and scope, helping thousands of families in Northeast Florida and the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan Area who are tackling childhood cancer. For more information, please visit  tcjayfund.org.

"Players want to play," Beason said. "I don't want to give a play back, but you are smart enough to know that conditioning comes into effect, practice reps, getting that mental rep is important as well, so I'll play the best I can for the time that I have and that's my mentality going into it."

Beason has been sidelined with a knee sprain he suffered in a preseason game with Jacksonville a month ago today. He missed the first two regular-season games, and first-year pro Uani 'Unga started in his place at middle linebacker.

Last week, his teammates voted Beason as the Giants' defensive captain for the second consecutive season. He is eager to return to the field to lead the defense, make plays and help the Giants earn their first victory of the season.

"I'm just looking for the nod, just looking for the nod, that's it," Beason said. "Going into the season, it was still sore and in years past I would risk it all for one play. You play in one game and you end of missing a lot more, so it was probably the smartest thing to do, maybe give something back early to gain a lot in the end."

Beason thought he had a chance to play last week but said the team's new practice schedule – which includes a recovery day on Fridays and a more uptempo workout Saturdays – might have worked against him.

"If I could have worked it more, I could get a chance to show that I am ready under some type of live action," Beason said. "Last week I didn't get that, unfortunately, so you go with the fact that, hey, we haven't seen you yet. But you feel good, and I know how important it is to practice and kind of move around a little bit, and then this week is kind of the same situation. I hope to play this week, I feel good, and hopefully I get the opportunity on Thursday."

If he does, Beason could enjoy a physical advantage. Thursday games are taxing for the players who performed on Sunday. Beason did little more than stand on the sideline, cheer for his team and help his defensive partners this past Sunday. He should be one of the more rested and pain-free players on the field.

"I'm in a different situation," Beason said. "I feel pretty good, I feel fresh. But I know my teammates are really sore, and Washington probably is as well."

Beason hopes to get a chance to add to that soreness on Thursday.

*Eli Manning said the short week presents the players with numerous challenges.

"Obviously, just getting the preparation, watching a lot of film," Manning said. "We know the personnel pretty well, but there's a new defensive coordinator (Joe Barry), so new scheme for Washington. (We're) just trying to watch as much film on them, see their tendencies, just see how they play certain coverages, what to expect, so we can have a good plan. Obviously, we have limited time to run a lot of the plays, lot of it is in walk-throughs. The only live thing we've done this week and will do is just a little seven-on-seven today with the pass game. Guys have got to be sharp on knowing where they're lining up, what they're doing and have a lot of walk-throughs to go over that kind of stuff, so we should be good in that category."

*Six Giants did not practice today: wide receiver Victor Cruz (calf), cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (concussion), tackle Ereck Flowers (ankle), defensive tackle Markus Kuhn (knee), tight end Jerome Cunningham (knee) and defensive end Owa Odighizuwa (foot).

Defensive end Robert Ayers (hamstring) and defensive tackle Jay Bromley (knee) were limited.

In addition to Beason, defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins (hamstring), guard Geoff Schwartz (illness) and tight end Daniel Fells (foot) practiced fully.

*The Giants will wear their white pants with their blue jerseys Thursday night. They will also wear their white pants when they host New England on Nov. 15.

*The Giants are 14-7-3 on Thursdays, including 3-2 under Tom Coughlin.

*The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation will recognize Childhood Cancer Awareness Month at the Giants' home game Thursday vs. Washington. 

Eight families of pediatric cancer patients will attend the game as special guests of the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund. They will watch the game from the Legacy Suite, and will wear special edition Jay Fund #GoGold T-shirts in honor of and in solidarity with all those tackling childhood cancer. Giants head coach and founder of the Jay Fund, Tom Coughlin, and his coaching staff will also sport his nonprofit's #GoGold pins to show their support. Coughlin has worn the pin during all September games.  

"The financial side effects of childhood cancer are becoming all too common for families whose sole focus should be helping their child get well," said Keli Coughlin, Executive Director of the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund. "We hope our efforts will increase awareness and we thank the Giants' coaches and organization for their support of the families who are dealing with the unthinkable across the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan region."

Prior to kick-off, one patient will join the captains of the Giants and Redskins for the opening coin toss ceremony.

The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation is joining with the national #GOGOLD campaign to raise awareness of this devastating disease. Coach Coughlin is asking individuals and communities to take his pledge to #BETHERE for families tackling childhood cancer in an effort to help increase visibility of the financial and emotional toll cancer takes on families, and to ensure that the Jay Fund will continue to #BETHERE so no one fights alone. Coach Coughlin has worn his #GOGOLD pin to recognize the month.

For more details, visit tcjayfund.org and follow the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund on all social media outlets by searching @tcjayfund.

About the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation

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