Giants TE Kyle Rudolph expects to be ready for Week 1 after foot surgery

The New York Giants signed two-time Pro Bowl tight end Kyle Rudolph early in free agency but then learned he required surgery to repair a previously undiagnosed foot problem. Big Blue nevertheless honored the terms of the two-year agreement that could be worth up to $14 million, and Rudolph explained Wednesday he should be good to go when regular-season play begins in September. 

"As far as football goes, I was extremely fortunate that the Giants organization and everyone involved [caught it], and how they were able to handle my situation, that I won’t miss any football," the 31-year-old said about the potential setback, per Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. "At this point, it’s about taking each day and taking that opportunity to not only get myself healthy but get myself better. It’s one thing to get and be healthy, it’s another to be ready to go and play in an NFL game. So I’m taking that day by day."

About being cleared by coach Joe Judge and company for the Week 1 showdown with the Denver Broncos on Sept. 12, Rudolph added:

"I want to do everything to make sure I’m getting better every single day, and whatever that is is up to Joe, [offensive coordinator] Jason [Garrett], [director of rehabilitation] Leigh [Weiss] and everybody else involved."

Just as with star running back Saquon Barkley, who is working to recover from the torn ACL he suffered on Sept. 20 of last year, the Giants have no reason to rush a veteran such as Rudolph back onto the field for training camp sessions or meaningless exhibition contests if he is less than 100% through the summer months.