New York Post

Team almost looks whole for opener

- By RYAN DUNLEAVY

The new-look Giants offense will be on display Sunday after all.

Receivers Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney, and tight end Kyle Rudolph — all of whom missed large chunks of training camp — are off the injury report and cleared to play in the season-opener against the Broncos.

The Giants will have their $72 million free-agent deep threat, their first-round rookie speedster and their veteran red-zone threat. They won’t have tight end Evan Engram (calf), who was ruled out. Running back Saquon Barkley (knee) and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (ankle) are listed as questionab­le, but both are trending toward playing, based on practice.

“I’m going to play the same way I’ve been playing [since] before I got the deal,” Golladay said. “I’m going out there hungry, ready to compete and trying to make plays. Whenever the No. 19 is called to make a play, I want to be right there to answer that. I feel like they brought me here to make big plays, and I want to do that. That’s what I’ve been doing pretty much my career.”

After averaging 17.5 points per game last season — better than only the Jets — the Giants invested in playmakers. But, at one point in August, it looked as if Engram, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton — the core of last year’s offense — would be the only targets available for Daniel Jones in Week 1. Since then, they’ve made a 3-for-1 trade in gaining the newcomers, but losing Engram.

The missed practice time disrupted chemistry, however. It seems every Giant who has talked in the last week has warned of a potential slow start.

“We have some vets in this offense that have made a lot of plays in this league,” Golladay said, “but as far as all of us playing as one, it’s going to be tough with only a week [of practice] out there.”

Golladay led the NFL with 11 touchdown catches in 2019, on top of his careerhigh 1,190 receiving yards. He had a career-high 70 catches in 2018. But his 2020 season mostly was wiped out by two hamstring injuries and another popped up early in training camp.

“I’m feeling a lot better,” Golladay said. “I’m able to pretty much do everything.”

Broncos DE Bradley Chubb (ankle) is listed as questionab­le — a potential break for the Giants’ offensive line. Chubb is expected to line up opposite beleaguere­d left tackle Andrew Thomas.

Eight other Giants were listed as limited participan­ts in practice but not in jeopardy of missing the game.

The Giants have won just one of their past nine season-openers (2016).

“There’s not a game in history that’s relevant or a season in history that’s relevant to what’s going to happen this year,” head coach Joe Judge said.

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