It took Leonard Williams eight years to make the playoffs for the primary time in his NFL profession.
“It feels amazing,” the Giants’ defensive lineman stated Thursday.
Now, for one week, he ought to relaxation.
Head coach Brian Daboll gruffly dismissed questions on his lineup plans for Sunday’s season finale on the Philadelphia Eagles. He stated he’ll make remaining selections on Friday evening.
But it seems to be trending towards a number of starters resting, together with banged-up starters like Williams (neck) and wholesome gamers, too.
That could be prudent because the Giants (9-6-1) have already got locked up the NFC’s No. 6 seed and are merely ready on their opponent: the Minnesota Vikings or San Francisco 49ers.
By rule, the media shouldn’t be allowed to report on particular personnel deployment at observe.
Candidates to play both just a little bit or by no means, although, embrace gamers equivalent to quarterback Daniel Jones, working again Saquon Barkley, left sort out Andrew Thomas, middle Jon Feliciano, proper guard Mark Glowinski, defensive sort out Dexter Lawrence and inside linebacker Jaylon Smith, simply to call a handful.
In different phrases, among the group’s prime gamers, plus necessary veterans whose our bodies can use some additional restoration earlier than the postseason begins.
Jones and Barkley have taken all the first reps at quarterback and working again in particular person drills throughout the open parts of observe this week. So the Giants haven’t tipped their hand there.
Daboll hasn’t proven Sunday’s beginning offense collectively whereas reporters have been current, both, together with on Thursday when Michael Strahan stopped by to provide the membership a pep discuss.
But it might make sense for backup QB Tyrod Taylor to see the majority of Sunday’s work, if not the beginning.
And whereas incentives in participant contracts generally impression personnel selections in a season finale, the Giants don’t have any that can impression contracts this week.
Veteran large receiver Richie James already earned a $100,000 incentive by reaching 40 catches on the season, in response to a supply. He is as much as 57, tied with Barkley for the group lead.
The gamers on the sphere are nonetheless going to attempt to win with the rival Eagles (13-3) battling for the convention’s No. 1 seed. But Daboll has the Giants within the dance, and the precedence must be getting ready for what they hope might be a long term.
DEFENDING KAYVON
Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale stated he understood the possibly dangerous optics of Kayvon Thibodeaux’s celebration subsequent to an injured Nick Foles final Sunday. But Martindale nonetheless caught up for his man.
“He did not know Nick Foles was hurt,” Martindale stated. “He’s a good guy and he wouldn’t have done that if he did know that … To me, it doesn’t look as bad as everybody’s trying to blow this thing up as, because I know he did not know he was hurt. I know the guy, I know the person, I know his heart. I get a little protective of that.”
GIANTS INJURY REPORT
Did not take part: DT Leonard Williams (neck), OLB Azeez Ojulari (ankle), observe squad DT Vernon Butler (sickness). Limited: C Jon Feliciano (again), CB Adoree Jackson (knee). Full: S Xavier McKinney (fingers), DT Dexter Lawrence (relaxation).
EAGLES INJURY REPORT
Did not take part: OT Lane Johnson (groin), DE Josh Sweat (neck), CB Avonte Maddox (toe). Limited: QB Jalen Hurts (proper shoulder), RB Miles Sanders (knee), LB Shaun Bradley (wrist), DE Janarius Robinson (ankle), CB James Bradberry (relaxation), WR A.J. Brown (relaxation), DT Fletcher Cox (relaxation), G Landon Dickerson (relaxation), DE Brandon Graham (relaxation), C Jason Kelce (relaxation), G Isaac Seumalo (relaxation), CB Darius Slay (relaxation). Full: CB Zech McPhearson (sickness).
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Source: www.bostonherald.com