Giants DE Kiwanuka suffers minor ankle injury

Sep 5, 2008 - 6:09 AM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- New York Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka suffered a minor ankle injury on the final play of Thursday's 16-7 victory over the Washington Redskins in the NFL season opener.

On an otherwise meaningless play, Redskins tackle Chris Samuels fell on the ankle of Kiwanuka, who limped off the field after an incident well behind the action.

Kiwanuka, who missed last season with a broken leg, was not concerned about the injury and did not seem to favor it in the locker room after the game. Giants coach Tom Coughlin, for his part, did not have much to add.

"I can't tell you anything," Coughlin said when asked about Kiwanuka's status. "It is just an ankle. Right now, it is an ankle."

After winning the Super Bowl behind its ferocious pass rush last season, New York lost Osi Umenyiora to a season-ending knee injury in the preseason and fellow defensive Michael Strahan to retirement in the offseason. Kiwanuka, a natural defensive end, was moved from linebacker to help replace the aforementioned duo.