Notebook: Tyrone Tracy Jr. takes next step after injury scare

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Tyrone Tracy made one of the most rapid recoveries from an apparent serious injury in Giants history.

A week ago, Tracy’s right leg bent awkwardly after he lost his footing in a kickoff return drill. He remained lying on his back as the team’s medical staff rushed onto the field and quickly put an air cast on the injured leg – a development that is usually a precursor to a long absence.

But Tracy, the running back selected in the fifth round of this year’s NFL Draft, returned to the Quest Training Center later that afternoon wearing a protective boot. The following day, he was walking without both the boot and a limp. Today, he was a full participant in practice.

“He’s good, he’s fine,” coach Brian Daboll said.

Until that was proven, Tracy endured some anxious moments.

“It was definitely something scary,” Tracy said. “The doctors took precautionary actions. So, I didn’t know what was wrong. They didn’t directly know what was wrong. They just did what they thought was right in the moment.”

Tracy said he learned later that day that the injury was a sprained ankle – and not a particularly serious one at that.

“We did end up going to the hospital,” he said. “They checked out my foot and everything. And actually, a little bit later that day, it was feeling way better than what it was earlier. Because when it initially happened, it was very scary. I think that in my head, I didn’t know what was going on because they put the air cast on. So, I didn’t know if it was broken or not. A lot of stuff was going on. It was definitely scary. But a little bit later that day, I was feeling way better.”

Tracy has been the second team running back behind Devin Singletary throughout training camp. He had just rushed for 26 yards on five carries in the preseason-opening victory vs. Detroit. But as the cart transported him to the trainer’s room, Tracy didn’t know if his immediate future might be in an operating room or a cast.

“At that point, we’re all human,” he said. “When things happen, you definitely have thoughts in your head. I’m trying to be faithful and I’m trying to be positive in the moment. But it was definitely hard just because I didn’t know what was wrong. I didn’t know what happened and everything kind of happened really fast. So, when things like that happen, thoughts start creeping in. You start thinking, ‘The season” over’ or ‘You’re not going to play this year,’ or whatever. I have high hopes for my rookie season. So, at that moment, I’m thinking all that kind of went down the drain. So, I thank God that I was able to come back and be able to play again.”

After that practice, Singletary and second year running back Eric Gray spoke about how difficult it was to see Tracy get carried off. They were also concerned it would be a while before their young teammate returned to the field. Those fears were alleviated when quickly returned to the Giants’ headquarters.

“We were back in meetings fairly quick,” he said. “It was really just because I didn’t want to miss meetings. I didn’t want to miss any information that was going in.

“They were pretty hyped for me when I was coming in. A lot of the folks around the building started calling me (Boston Celtics forward) Paul Pierce. They said I pulled a Paul Pierce. But it’s all good. I know there is very genuine love around the building and I’m happy to be here for real.”

“Yeah, I feel good,” Tracy said. “I feel really good. Today was kind of like a test to see how good I was. I didn’t get really many reps. But they wanted to see me move, wanted to see how well I was moving. And me personally, I think I did fairly well.”

It certainly beats what might have been.