GIANTS CORNER-ED
DRC ‘thinks’ he can play vs. Vikes, Apple doubtful
The Giants’ secondary might not be as shorthanded as once feared against the Vikings. Despite suffering a groin injury on Sunday, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said he “feels good” and believes he will be active Monday night in Minnesota.
“I think I can play,” he told The Post on Wednesday. “I know me, I know my body. I know I’m a guy that likes to be out there. Me sitting out is kind of hard to fathom.”
Rodgers-Cromartie said he is unsure if he will practice on Thursday — the first practice of the week — but he believes it is important for him be able to do “some things” at some point this week.
“We’ll see how I feel then,” said Rodgers-Cromartie, who missed just one start in his previous two years with Big Blue. “It’s a game we’re going to need everybody, so the main thing is just to stay heavy on treatment and continue to [get better].”
The other injured cornerback, rookie Eli Apple, was less optimistic. Nursing a sore hamstring, Apple said he is day-to-day, and was unsure when he would return to practice.
“With a hamstring, you don’t want to rush it too much, put too much pressure on it yet,” Apple said. “I won’t know [about potentially playing] until I start running, whenever that it. Hopefully it will be soon.”
Veterans Leon Hall and Trevin Wade are expected to fill in for Apple and Rodgers-Cromartie if the duo can’t go.
RB Rashad Jennings, who missed the Giants’ 29-27 loss to the Redskins with a left thumb injury, said he expects to practice on Thursday and play Monday night against the Vikings.
Andrew Adams said he was worried one mistake would cost him a job. The rookie safety, playing in his first NFL game on Sunday, was flagged for an unnecessary roughness penalty that wiped away a blocked punt in the Giants’ loss. He didn’t know the ball was blocked, and continued to block his man on the play, resulting in the penalty.
“It was nerve-racking,” Adams said. “I have faith in my position coach, my special teams coach, they have faith in me. I made a dumb mistake, I’m glad they looked past it, they told me to put it behind and move on to the next game.”
That next game will be Monday night, in Minnesota against the undefeated Vikings.
“I’m ready for Monday night,” he said. “It’s a big game for this organization and it’s a big game for me.”
Rookie WR Sterling Shepard is off to the start the Giants hoped for when they drafted him.
He’s second behind Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas for the most receptions by a rookie with 16, he’s second only to Texans rookie Will Fuller for most receiving yards with 233, and he also has two touchdown catches, tied with Browns rookie Corey Coleman.
But the most important number to him is two — Giants wins — and contributing to them.
“That’s the main thing I wanted to do when I came in,” said Shepard, the Giants’ second round pick from Oklahoma.