EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Giants rookie defensive tackle Markus Kuhn tore his ACL during Sunday's loss to the Bengals and will miss the remainder of the season. Kuhn, a seventh-round pick, will eventually undergo surgery.

"It's definitely a bummer, not what you want to happen to your season," Kuhn said. "It's nothing I can do about it now other than try to get back as soon as possible."

Markus Kuhn is helped off the field during Sunday's game. AP Photo/Tom Uhlman

Kuhn, 26, said he felt something pop during the second half and didn't believe it was as bad an injury as it turned out to be.

The rookie had earned valuable snaps, starting against Cleveland on Oct. 7, and was thoroughly involved in the team's rotation at defensive tackle. He had eight combined tackles and four pass deflections in 10 games. With him out of the fold, the Giants will now need second-year player Marvin Austin to step up.

Kuhn is hopeful he impressed the team enough to be brought back next season.

"I think they drafted me here for a reason," Kuhn said. "I worked hard and tried to get on the field and I played a good amount for a rookie. Now it's just moving forward. I hope I helped the team out, where we are right now, and I know we all have to move forward and get better."

Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell praised Kuhn.

"He plays a big role," Fewell said. "Nobody really talks about him, and that's good because he just comes in and does his job. That's probably why you don't talk about him, because he does his job."

WILLIAMS LOOKING TO RETURN: Linebacker Jacquian Williams has missed the past four games since suffering a PCL injury in his left knee against the 49ers on Oct. 14, but expects to return after the bye.

"That's the plan," Williams said. "That's the expected date they gave me."

Williams said he didn't expect to miss that much time with his injury; he fell wrong against the 49ers, but didn't think it was that big of an issue. He said he's feeling better and his knee is slowly healing. Williams said he will do some light running during the bye week to see how it feels.

He's perhaps the team's best sideline-to-sideline linebacker, and has 15 total tackles and one sack on the year.

"I'm confident that I'll be back," Williams said. "I miss being out there."

BENNETT HAS KNEE ISSUE: Tight end Martellus Bennett said he has been playing with a "messed-up" knee since he hyperextended it against Cleveland on Oct. 7. The tight end has not missed any time with the injury, but will use the bye week to get healthier. He has 36 catches for 411 yards and three scores.