Peppers a bit salty about playing time

Jabrill Peppers needed few words to say a lot.

The Giants’ co-captain clearly is having a difficult time digesting his drastically reduced role during the season-opening to the Broncos, as well as the possibility that it wasn’t just one-week specific.

“It’s different,” Peppers admitted.

Peppers played 97 percent or more of the defensive snaps in all 23 games he was fully healthy for during his first two seasons with the Giants. He played 1,001 snaps, including special teams, last season. Then he played just 30 of 66 snaps as the odd-manout in a three-safety rotation in Week 1.

“It’s just the game plan right now,” Peppers said. “Whatever the coaches think is best for that week, that’s what it’s going to be.”

There are better and louder players on the defense, but Peppers — who constantly talks trash, flaps his arms and runs like he drank 10 energy drinks — is the emotional heartbeat.

“He adds a physicalness to our defense because I feel like he’s our enforcer,” cornerback James Bradberry said, “so definitely adds a different element when he’s on the field.”

Is it hard to replicate that high when he is coming on and off the field?

“You could say that,” Peppers said.

Xavier McKinney missed most of last season and Logan Ryan only was signed when McKinney was injured in training camp. Now that they are both healthy, the Giants favored that duo in pass coverage and used Peppers more like an outside linebacker.

In a self-described “subpar” performance, Peppers allowed four catches on four targets against the Broncos, after allowing 46 (fifth-most among safeties) last season. Other parts of his skill-set compensated, and he was graded No. 46 of 94 safeties by Pro Football Focus.

“When my number is called, do a better job than I did last week,” Peppers said. “I’ve got to play better press technique. I gave up two big third downs. I gave up a catch in the red zone. Those are routes that I usually cover in my sleep.”

➤ The Panthers cut kicker Ryan Santoso, who went 2-for-2 on field goals and 1-for-2 on PATs in Week 1. The Giants traded Santoso to the Panthers for a conditional seventhround draft pick.

Because those conditions were not met, the pick was returned to the Panthers. Santoso is a candidate to rejoin the Giants’ practice squad.

➤ OG Shane Lemieux, TE Evan Engram and LB Cam Brown would not have participated in practice Tuesday, according to estimations after a walkthrough. But the Giants haven’t ruled out Engram making his season debut Thursday against Washington.

“I hope so,” head coach Joe Judge said. “I know he’s been pushing.”