Giants' Tom Coughlin impressed with Ereck Flowers' toughness

New York Giants left tackle Ereck Flowers aggravated his nagging left ankle injury on the first series, but that didn't stop him from gutting it out and playing 63-of-74 offensive snaps in the Giants' Week 4 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Flowers has been practicing and playing through this same ankle injury since it first occurred in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. Head coach Tom Coughlin is impressed with the rookie's grit.

"The kid’s a tough kid," Coughlin told reporters when asked about Flowers, per Giants 101. I ask him how he’s doing and he says, “Good.” He’s always good. The key thing is, on the first play of the game, he hurt the ankle again. He came out and before you know it, he’s back in. I respect the hell out of it."

According to Pro Football Focus, Flowers earned positive grades as both a run blocker and in pass protection, despite playing through the injury. What makes Flowers' grades even more impressive is the fact that he matched up with one of the NFL's best right defensive ends in Jerry Hughes.