Jake Ballard Fantasy News

Monday, May 7, 2012, 4:43pm

The Giants may not be banking on having TE Travis Beckum at the start of the 2012 season. But there's a pretty good chance that it might happen.

Beckum was at Sunday's Knicks-Heat game, and he told the Daily News that he's still hoping to return by the start of the season.

"If everything works out, yeah," he said. "I'm just working hard and getting it healthy."

Just two months after surgery, Beckum, who tore his ACL and meniscus in Super Bowl XLVI, is already moving around without a brace and feeling next to no pain. He had surgery on Feb. 28, then spent three weeks using a passive machine to regain his range of motion. He's already progressed to strength exercises, and there was no sign of crutches when he showed up at the Garden.

He said he hasn't run yet, mostly because there's no need to push it this early in the offseason.

There's also no need to rush back to health, and Beckum said that he understands that. The Giants acquired veteran tight end Martellus Bennett in free agency, and they picked up super-athlete Adrien Robinson in the draft, so Beckum knows he doesn't need to rush back.

Saturday, April 21, 2012, 3:11pm

What began as a co-rehab arrangement has now developed into Travis Beckum trying to make a remarkable recovery in time for the regular-season opener while Jake Ballard simply tries to make it on the field at all this year.

As reported by The Record recently, Ballard had microfracture surgery in addition to his ACL repair. That meant he had to stay off his feet for six weeks while Beckum got into his recovery and impressed doctors with his ability to walk, minimal swelling and good muscle definition around the knee. (The Giants, realizing both players faced a long recovery, signed Martellus Bennett on the second day of free agency.)

Thursday, April 19, 2012, 7:21pm

Telling take from TE Jake Ballard, rehabbing from ACL and microfracture surgery: "My best chance would be midseason, if at all."

Jake Ballard underwent microfracture surgery
Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 4:24pm

The Giants medical staff had examined Jake Ballard and thought he had torn his meniscus, not his ACL, when he went down in the fourth quarter of the Giants’ Super Bowl XLVI victory. But that was reason enough to try to go back out there — even if he was experiencing the worst pain of his life.

The trainers watched and NBC cameras filmed as Ballard tested his knee on the side. He doesn’t know exactly what happened, but he thinks he already had torn his ACL, then damaged cartilage when his knee buckled while testing it.

Ballard, 24, underwent microfracture surgery to repair the cartilage as well as surgery to repair his torn ACL in February, casting doubt on when – or if – he will return for the 2012 season.

"My knee just collapsed," Ballard said Monday night in a phone interview, a week before the Giants begin OTAs. "I definitely tore [my ACL] on the field. I’d say [the cartilage damage] probably happened on the sideline from trying to run with no ACL.

"But I don’t regret trying to get back in the game. It’s the biggest game in any football player’s career."

Sunday, February 12, 2012, 3:32pm

Jerry Reese anticipates Giants TEs Travis Beckum and Jake Ballard (torn ACLs) will have to begin next year's camp on PUP.

Monday, February 6, 2012, 7:44pm

Two Giants’ tight ends suffered serious knee injuries in the team’s 21-17 Super Bowl XLVI victory over the New England Patriots. Jake Ballard tore his meniscus cartilage while Travis Beckum tore his right anterior cruciate ligament. Neither returned to the game, leaving Bear Pascoe as the last man standing.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012, 5:22pm

Giants TE Jake Ballard said he is still slightly bothered by the knee injury.

“It is still a little tweaked," Ballard said. "It feels a lot better than it has in a long time. I am running well and I am running a lot better than I have in the last three or four games.”

Jake Ballard active for Giants
Sunday, January 22, 2012, 10:33pm

Giants Inactives
WR Ramses Barden
RB Da'Rel Scott
LB Mark Herzlich
OL Jim Cordle
DE Justin Trattou
DT Jimmy Kennedy
OL James Brewer

Sunday, January 22, 2012, 5:52pm

The Giants expect TE Jake Ballard to play. But due to the nature of his knee injury, they're going to wait to see him move before making final call.

Saturday, January 21, 2012, 6:35pm

“I’m not concerned,” Giants TE Jake Ballard said. “They told me they didn't want me to go into details. I did a little something; the knee was a little sore today. But I should be ready to go for the game.”

A source familiar with the situation said Ballard had an injection of medication in his knee to reduce swelling. He suffered a torn posterior cruciate ligament earlier this season, and missed the Giants' final two games before returning for the playoff opener against Atlanta.

Saturday, January 7, 2012, 7:23pm

Giants TE Jake Ballard has missed two games after partially tearing the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee against Washington in Week 15. He is listed as probable on the injury report and expects to play at “full speed.” He doesn’t plan to wear a knee brace, but expects to have his knee wrapped and wear extra padding.

Monday, January 2, 2012, 12:47am

Giants Inactives
Jake Ballard TE
Ramses Barden
James Brewer T
Jim Cordle C
Mark Herzlich LB
Jimmy Kennedy DT
Justin Trattou DE