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Giants starting middle linebacker Jon Beason remains optimistic despite a scheduled trip to visit a foot specialist on Friday.

(Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

EAST RUTHERFORD -- When Giants middle linebacker Jon Beason attacked the line of scrimmage late in the third quarter on Sunday afternoon, he stepped on teammate Jameel McClain's foot and felt a pop. It was a familiar feeling to when he fractured his right foot and tore ligaments during a practice in June.

Beason left MetLife Stadium on Sunday sporting a walking boot, with fear that his season might be done. Now, there is hope, with Beason -- singing the same tune as coach Tom Coughlin -- not yet willing to rule himself out for Sunday against the Houston Texans, even if he hasn't physically tested the stability of the affected foot.

"It feels a whole lot better, and when I say a whole lot, that is good," Beason said Thursday after missing his second straight day of practice. "Not a little, based on the way it felt on Sunday. Sunday to Tuesday was huge."

The Giants had been dodgy about the specifics of the injury. Beason underwent an X-ray after the game and an MRI on Monday. They would only say Tuesday that he aggravated the injury that sidelined him all of training camp, and that he "may" visit renowned foot and ankle specialist Dr. Robert Anderson in North Carolina later this week.

Beason will indeed make the trip to Charlotte on Friday for further evaluation. He wouldn't say for sure the foot wasn't fractured, but based on how he feels, he believes the problem is loose scar tissue, something he was warned about when he returned to practice the week before the season opener in Detroit.

"Based on how it feels [I don't think it's fractured]," Beason said. "When I first did it [in June], I couldn't walk. Sunday night I felt I could walk on it. Monday I felt a little bit better. Tuesday I felt drastically better, which is good."

The problem appears to be that the images now are being compared to the images taken after the injury first occurred during Organized Team Activities in June. The doctors are unable to determine what is scar tissue and what is not.

Beason, who did not have surgery on the foot when it was originally injured, would have visited Dr. Anderson earlier in the week if the specialist's schedule permitted. But it did not.

In the meantime, the veteran linebacker has been seeing Giants team doctor Russell Warren, who has been communicating with Dr. Anderson daily. They all appear rather optimistic right now, maybe not that he can return this week, but that he'll be back sooner rather than later.

"I'm feeling a lot better right away," said Beason, who dumped the boot Wednesday on his right foot. "So it's an indication it's probably scar tissue moving."

Right now, all the Giants and Beason have are some positive signs and hope. Nothing is certain. There is not timetable for his return.

The official diagnosis will take place on Friday. That's when the Giants and their defensive signal-caller should know more about where his availability stands for the short term, and the remainder of the 2014 season. Then they can really breathe easier.

Jordan Raanan may be reached at jraanan@nj.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanRaanan. Find NJ.com Giants on Facebook.