Giants are eyeing Plan B on ailing Vernon

The chances of Olivier Vernon being able to play in Sunday’s season opener are dwindling each day he misses practice, which he did again Thursday. And so, look for veteran newcomer Connor Barwin and rookier Lorenzo Carter to pick up the slack at outside linebacker for the Giants against the Jaguars.

“If you ever were to have to play without someone, then it’s just the other guys at that position have to step up, and it’s going to be multiple guys handling whatever that job was,’’ defensive coordinator James Bettcher said Thursday. “There will be different guys sharing some of that responsibility.’’

Barwin, 31, signed July 24 and is entering his 10th NFL season. He played in the preseason opener but hurt a knee and did not play another down in the final three games. He has 55.5 career sacks but has not received extensive work since the early stages of training camp.

“I’ve played in a lot of NFL football games,’’ Barwin said. “You can say my legs are little fresh going into this week, because I had about a week and a half off of training camp, so it worked out. I did everything I had to do when I was down for those days. I feel prepared, I know what I’m supposed to do, and again, my legs are fresh going into Sunday.’’

Carter, a third-round pick from Georgia, who was limited in practice Thursday with an illness, has impressed with his quick first step and long, athletic body.

“I just got to be ready when my number’s called,’’ Carter said. “I don’t know when it will be, I don’t know how much it will be, but every time my number’s called I have to be ready That’s just the mindset I carry.’’

It is becoming increasingly clear Vernon will not be able to heal from a high ankle sprain in time to play in the opener. Asked if he needs to see a player practice before putting him in a game, coach Pat Shurmur said, “Depends what the injury is and who the player is.’’

There is not much outward optimism on this one. “I don’t know what’s gonna happen for this weekend,’’ Shurmur said. “We’ll have to see as we go.’’

➤ The clocks at the Giants’ facility were set at “Tom Coughlin Time’’ — five minutes fast — during his 12 years as the head coach. Ben McAdoo, in deference to Coughlin, kept the clocks set that way the past two seasons. Under Shurmur, the clocks are now set to the actual time. Shurmur wants to avoid any confusion as to what time it is.

Ereck Flowers is a man of few words. Approached at his locker before practice, Flowers was asked how he felt preparing for his first start at right tackle. “I feel good,’’ he said. Asked about the state of the offensive line, Flowers said, “We’ll see when the time comes.’’ Asked about facing the Jaguars defense, Flowers said, “I don’t really have nothing to say, I’m just waiting to go out there and play. That’s about it.’’ ➤ CB Jalen Ramsey (ankle) was added to the Jaguars injury report.