LAST GIANTS
Mac still has difficult roster
The final week of the NFL preseason often is overlooked with the excitement of Week 1 being so close, but the next three days will be critical to the formation of the Giants’ 53-man 2017 roster. Players’ performances in Thursday night’s preseason finale against New England in Foxborough, Mass., still can sway coach Ben McAdoo. And GM Jerry Reese will be on the lookout before and during Saturday’s league-wide cut-down from 90 to 53 players per roster, seeking potential last-minute upgrades.
The Giants are required to cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Saturday. They then may establish a 10-player practice squad any time after Sunday at 1 p.m. But before then, it will be a whirlwind.
So here’s a guide to the Top 10 Giants storylines to follow, from the Patriots’ game to the weekend activity: 1. CORNERING THE MARKET
The Giants desperately need to improve their secondary depth. Two-time Pro Bowl corner Joe Haden signed with the Steelers on Wednesday after the Browns released him. Darrelle Revis would make sense for a workout but there have been no signs the Giants are interested yet in the ex-Jet. So don’t be surprised if Reese raids a few teams’ cuts on Saturday for DBs. Starter Eli Apple (ankle) and top backup Michael Hunter (concussion) are hurt, and free agent signing Valentino Blake appears to be gone for good after leaving the team for personal reasons on Aug. 23. Reese already acquired two new corners this week: Tay Glover-Wright (waivers, Eagles, Monday) and Daniel Gray. And Glover-Wright received Blake’s former jersey number, 47. Blake tweeted his first comment since leaving the team on Wednesday: “Depression gets da best of me,” on @ ZillaMan41. Blake’s departure occurred days before Hurricane Harvey hit, but it’s worth noting that the Giants listed Blake’s hometown as Missouri City, Tx., a southwest suburb of Houston, which has been devastated by the unprecedented storm. No current Giant hails from that area. 2. GENO’S LAST STAND? Geno Smith could win or lose the Giants’ backup quarterback job in Thursday night’s finale against the Patriots, a familiar foe from his four seasons with the Jets. McAdoo has said that he likes a lot of Smith’s traits, but if Geno continues to turn the ball over, he won’t make the team. Smith again threw an interception to corner Donte Deayon on a throw behind his receiver in Tuesday’s practice. It’s between him and incumbent Josh Johnson, with third-round pick Davis Webb most likely developing as the third QB in his rookie year. 3. MARSHALL, MARSHALL, MARSHALL
Will McAdoo play Brandon Marshall a couple series against the Patriots, given how few snaps the Giants’ new receiver has taken? Last summer, McAdoo sat several starters for the finale, including Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr. and center Weston Richburg, but second and third receivers Sterling Shepard and Victor Cruz played two series, as did the rest of the offensive line. Beckham’s sprained ankle may force McAdoo to exercise caution, since Marshall has nursed a shoulder ailment himself. But Marshall’s 28 snaps and one 2-yard catch of a Smith pass in two games hasn’t provided much of a launching pad for the veteran wideout. 4. THE LINE DANCE
Unless something dramatic happens, undrafted rookie left tackle Chad Wheeler should make the team, along with center/guard Brett Jones. Interior lineman Adam Gettis would have made it, too, but he’s now on injured reserve with a foot injury. So the players to watch are rookie right tackle Adam Bisnowaty and free agent signing D.J. Fluker. Bisnowaty has had a bad preseason. Fluker’s been just OK. If Wheeler holds strong Thursday, a lineman most people penciled in at camp’s opening should get cut. 5. HIGH AND TIGHT (ENDS)
Competition is stiff at the Giants’ revamped tight end position, and McAdoo admitted Monday that if he decides to keep a fullback, it will eliminate a roster spot for a tight end on the bubble. “It’s not just really the tight end group, it’s the fullback group that’s considered there, too,” the coach said. Undrafted rookie fullback Shane