Giants banged up at cornerback and safety for Vikings’ matchup

The New York Giants are so short of players in the secondary that rookie coach Ben McAdoo had to have a couple of his receivers play safety in practice.

McAdoo would not identify the guys who got shifted nor would he say whether any of them might be used Monday night when the Giants (21) face the Vikings (3-0) on the road.

Who knows? Imagine Odell Backham Jr. back there! He did it in the Pro Bowl.

The truth is the Giants need some bodies in the secondary, and it’s not just safety. They are hurting at cornerback, too.

Let’s start at safety. Rookie starter Darian Thompson missed last weekend’s game with a foot injury. He is still wearing a boot. His backup, Nat Berhe, is in the concussion protocol after being hurt this past week against the Redskins. Second-year safety Mykkele Thompson went on injured reserve on Sept. 20 with a knee injury.

That leaves starter Landon Collins, Andrew Adams, who was signed off the practice squad late last week, and veteran cornerback Leon Hall, who has shifted to the back line.

Janoris Jenkins is the only healthy starting cornerback. Dominique Rodgers Cromartie (groin) and first-round draft pick Eli Apple (hamstring) had to leave Sunday’s game. They did not practice although they worked outside with the team’s trainers.

If neither can’t go, veteran backup Trevin Wade and rookie Michael Hunter are next up.

The only good thing for the Giants is that the Vikings are 31st in the league in offense and 28th in passing. “The plan is the faces change but the expectations remain the same,” McAdoo said when asked about who would start with Collins at safety.

Adams would seem to be next in line, but he has very little experience. Hall is a nine-year veteran who says he could make the adjustment.

Beckham would not mind a crack at safety.

“I wouldn’t mind hitting someone,” said Beckham, who has gotten his fair share of fines for illegal hits as a receiver.