EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- For the second time in three seasons, New York Giants starting cornerback William Peterson has suffered a potentially season-ending back injury.
Peterson, listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against St. Louis, said Thursday the injury could force him to miss the game and possibly the rest of the season.
Peterson said the team's medical staff diagnosed a fracture of his lower back after he had an MRI exam last week. He experienced pain while playing against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night, and said further tests this week have showed the injury to be more serious, though he did not offer specifics.
"I was told it was something I could play with that would just cause me pain, but it wouldn't cause any other damage to the back," he said. "But after the game, on Monday I was told it was more serious in nature. Right now it doesn't look good for this weekend and it doesn't look good for this season."
The fifth-year cornerback missed all but the first five games of the 2003 season with a stress fracture in his lower back. He said the current injury is similar but said it feels worse than the one he suffered two years ago. He said he would see a specialist to learn more details.
Peterson's injury is a blow to a Giants defense that has allowed 284 passing yards per game this season --- fourth-worst in the NFL -- and gave up 485 total yards to San Diego on Sunday night in a 45-23 loss. He will most likely be replaced by second-year pro Curtis Deloatch, who started against Arizona on Sept. 11. Rookie Corey Webster, who has played regularly in nickel situations, missed the San Diego game with a quadriceps injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday.
Peterson, a starter since 2002, missed the Giants' final two preseason games and the season opener against Arizona with a sprained knee ligament suffered against Carolina on Aug. 20. He said he first noticed the back injury during his first regular season game, against New Orleans on Sept. 19.
"I'm thinking it happened in the first game," Peterson said. "I was feeling more soreness as the game went on, and in the second half there was a lot of soreness and running was difficult."
This puts a lot of our injuries in perspective. We have yet to lose a significant player for the year, execept for Tupa. We have some nagging injuries but our guys are holding up well. I hate to see a player lost for a season but this will work in our favor.
...just playing..... 