Eli proves he can put wheels in motion

Eli Manning will never pick up the nickname “Crazy Legs,” but he is going to have to move around more in coach Pat Shurmur’s offense than he has in past systems. Manning put his 37-year-old legs on display in Friday night’s 22-16 preseason victory over the Jets, running a few bootlegs and sprint-outs, moving the pocket.

“I believe every quarterback needs to use his legs to some degree,’’ Shurmur said Saturday. “And I do believe you have to move the launch point for the throws, which sometimes means play-action game or moving the pocket. I believe in that and I do believe any quarterback can do it to some degree.

“Eli moves around well enough where he can execute some of that stuff.’’

TE Evan Engram is in the concussion protocol after a hard hit during Friday’s game.

“I really don’t want to add anything to that,’’ Shurmur said. “Nothing has really changed from [Friday] night.’’

TE Rhett Ellison played through a migraine and experienced some blurred vision. Shurmur said Ellison was feeling better on Saturday.

Thus far in his tenure as the Giants’ head coach, Shurmur has not gone public with any criticism of his players’ performance. And he stood by Jonathan Stewart a day after the veteran running back carried the ball three times for minus-7 yards and lost the ball on a fumble.

“He’s a veteran player and he’s played really well for a lot of seasons,’’ Shurmur said. “There’s always a reason why things don’t … you just look at the raw production you say, ‘Oh my goodness.’ But we just got to take it for what it is. I know he can play football and play at a high level and we’re just counting on that.’’

In his quest to prove he deserves to remain on the roster, Aldrick Rosas went 4-for-4 on field goals, hitting from 48, 40, 27 and 21 yards.

“I thought it was terrific,’’ Shurmur said. “When you make your field goals when we’re stalling out like that and you get points on the board, that’s huge.’’

Rosas is a big kicker at 6-foot-3 and 233 pounds. Punter Riley Dixon is 6-5, 227.

“I think both of our specialists, Riley Dixon and then Aldrick, they look like football players to me,’’ Shurmur said. “They’re big, strong guys.’’

It looks as if Curtis Riley is nailng down the starting free safety spot. Andrew Adams and converted cornerback William Gay also got snaps at that spot versus the Jets. Shurmur said he is close to making a decision on the starter.

It will not be Darian Thompson, whose spot on the roster is not secure as he continues to miss time with a strained hamstring.