New York Giants Can't Rely on Jon Beason

Since joining the New York Giants after being acquired from the Carolina Panthers just over a year ago, middle linebacker Jon Beason has probably been New York's most consistent and productive defender. 

When healthy.

The problem is the Giants can't rely on Beason to remain on the field. 

The 29-year-old missed virtually the entire 2011 season due to a torn Achilles tendon and played in only four games in 2012 before microfracture surgery on his right knee ended his season in October. He was a relatively healthy tackle machine throughout his first semi-full season with the Giants, which had some thinking he finally had shaken that injury-prone label and could become a valuable long-term contributor in the middle. 

Not so. 

Issues with his right foot and right big toe have hampered the three-time Pro Bowler throughout the first half of the season, and now he could be forced to shut it down for the remainder of the 2014 campaign. 

"Right now, I'd say it's 50-50," Beason said regarding the chances of that happening on WFAN-AM on Tuesday, per NFL.com's Conor Orr. "I'm still deciding if the smart thing is to go ahead and get it fixed and get ready for next season."

The same foot injury cost Beason much of his summer, as well as three games earlier this year after aggravation. It flared up again in a Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, and now surgery is apparently a possibility. 

If that's the case, there's a good chance Beason won't play another game until he's on the wrong side of 30. So even though they gambled by giving him a three-year, $16.8 million contract in the offseason, the Giants have to come to terms with the reality that Beason might be yet another failed reclamation project at the linebacker position. 

Year	Project	Drafted	Lasted
2010	Keith Bulluck	First round, 2000	13 games
2012	Keith Rivers	First round, 2008	Still trucking
2013	Aaron Curry	First round, 2009	3 preseason games
2013	Jon Beason	First round, 2007	16 games thus far

A lot is made of the Giants' struggles when rushing the passer, but the run defense has given up a shabby 4.4 yards per carry this season. Without Beason during the second half Sunday, they were gashed by Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray. 

Sans Beason, they also had way too much trouble with backup Houston Texans running back Alfred Blue in Week 3 and Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris in Week 4. 

This team's been looking for a steady force in the middle ever since the Antonio Pierce era came to an end in 2009, but they haven't drafted a linebacker in the top three rounds since 2009. They don't necessarily have to give up on Beason, especially with that contract and few other options on the table, but the Giants would be smart to consider addressing that spot early in the 2015 draft. 

Because going forward, anything they get from Beason has to be considered a bonus. 

Brad Gagnon has covered the NFC East for Bleacher Report since 2012.

Follow @Brad_Gagnon