Giants DC wary of Denver receivers

The Broncos are coming, and Patrick Graham is sporting stubble on his chin. Coincidence? Nope. The Giants’ defensive coordinator is a worrier, and this week the object of his concern is basically everyone the Broncos put out on the field on offense. When he got through analyzing the wide receivers that veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will throw it to on Sunday, Graham sounded exhausted.

“So, yeah, it’s tough,’’ Graham said. “That’s why I haven’t shaved.’’

The Broncos are not reputed to be a high-wire passing game, but do not tell that to Graham. He sees Courtland Sutton, K.J. Hamler, Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick as a fearsome foursome, attempting to prey on the strength of the Giants’ defense, their secondary.

“They’ve got people that can run,’’ Graham said. “You ask any coordinator, any head coach, any DB coach, the first thing: ‘Who are the people that can run by you?’ They have several of those guys. They could run by you. If it’s a foot race, they could run by you. “Then, you’ve got to talk about the tight end [Noah Fant]. There’s another guy who could run.”

➤ It could be that rookie Kadarius Toney is the first Giants player to touch the ball in the regular season — if the Giants entrust him with the kickoff-return duties. That role requires ball security as a priority, more so than breakaway ability.

“Kadarius is earning everyone’s trust,’’ special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey said. “He’s getting out here and he’s working. He’s a rookie, he’s trying to find his way and lead. He’s going to try and find his niche and he’s doing a good job, he is. He’s different, he’s a special athlete.’’

➤ It sounds as if Nate Ebner, signed this week, will pick up where he left off in 2020 as a key cog on virtually every special teams unit. Ebner this summer was rehabbing an injury that cost him a shot at making the U.S. rugby team that competed at the Olympics in Tokyo.