Giants will face explosive Saints without Vernon, Apple

Five injured Giants starters, three on offense and two on defense, will miss Sunday’s home game against the New Orleans Saints. And both of their return specialists are hurt, which could open the door to Saquon Barkley returning kicks and Odell Beckham Jr. bringing back more punts.

Pass rusher Olivier Vernon (high left ankle sprain) will miss a fourth straight game to open the season, and corner Eli Apple (groin) will miss a second straight game, leaving the defense shorthanded against a Saints offense averaging 34.7 points per game.

And tight end Evan Engram (right MCL sprain), wide receiver/kick returner Cody Latimer (knee) and running back Jonathan Stewart (foot) will sit, as well, robbing Eli Manning of two of his top five skill position players. And corner Antonio Hamilton (groin) and return man Stacy Coley (hamstring) are questionable.

Head coach Pat Shurmur said “there’s no setback” with Vernon, but the reality is the Giants’ pass rusher did more in Wednesday’s practice than he did in Thursday’s, likely meaning the ankle didn’t respond well to the Wednesday work.

Apple said “I’m really close” to returning but still has to prove he can “run faster” and “get back to my normal speed.” He did “a lot” in Thursday’s practice, but he and the training staff were cautious on Friday.

Corner B.W. Webb will get the start again in place of Apple, while the Giants continue to replace Vernon with a group that includes veteran Connor Barwin and rookie Lorenzo Carter at outside linebacker.