Spags: Apple wasn’t ‘benched’ at start of Bolts battle

If it looks like a benching and sounds like a benching, is it a benching?

No, according to Steve Spagnuolo.

Cornerback Eli Apple was pulled from the starting lineup in a 27-22 loss to the Chargers and remained on the sideline for the first three defensive series. He was replaced in the lineup by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, with Ross Cockrell coming off the bench to play the slot corner role vacated by Rodg- ers-Cromartie. After the loss Apple said he was not happy he was benched. Or was he? “Yeah, I wouldn’t call it a benching,’’ said Spagnuolo, the Giants’ defensive coordinator. “That was more of a compliment to Ross and what he’s been doing out here. Ross has been out here working, we see it and we notice it. So, we want to get guys in rotations and we did, we rotat- ed the guys right through.’’

Well, that is not entirely accurate. Once Apple came into the game, he was not rotated out. He ended up playing 63 of the 78 defensive snaps. Afterward, Apple intimated he felt as if he was scapegoated and that the “culture’’ had to change within the team.

“Well, we’ve talked, everything’s fine,’’ Spagnuolo said.

It was, Olivier Vernon said, “weird and different.’’ For the first time, Vernon had to watch a game from the sideline, as a sprained ankle prevented him from suiting up last Sunday.

The injury forced Vernon to miss the first game in his NFL career, breaking an 84-game streak. He said the last time he missed any game was his freshman year at the University of Miami.

“It’s something, just felt weird and different, not something you’re ever used to,’’ Vernon told The Post. “Never missed a practice, never missed a game, all you can do is be positive. Whatever I can do to help, especially the younger guys, try to help them see different things.’’

Vernon missed another practice Thursday, working on the side with trainers. He is hopeful of playing Sunday night in Denver.

The likely cornerback lineup Sunday is Janoris Jenkins and Apple as the starters and Cockrell as the nickel back, playing in the slot replacing the suspended Rodgers-Cromartie.

With the suspension of Rodgers-Cromartie, the Giants needed another cornerback and signed Donte Deayon off their practice squad. ... Vernon (ankle), WR Sterling Shepard (ankle), LB Jonathan Casillas ( neck), S Landon Col l i ns (ankle), C Weston Richburg (concussion) and RB Paul Perkins (ribs) did not practice Thursday. DE Romeo Okwara ( k nee) was limited.