Giants’ COVID list grows to half dozen
The rash of COVID-19 positive tests that are rampaging through the NFL did not leave the Giants unscathed, with five players testing positive on Wednesday and a sixth, star safety Xavier McKinney, considered a high-risk close contact because he is not vaccinated.
Two wide receivers, Kadarius Toney and John Ross, came back with positive test results in the morning, as did outside linebacker Oshane Ximines. Later in the day, positive tests came back for cornerback Aaron Robinson and linebacker Cam Brown. Those five players, along with McKinney, are on the reserve-COVID-19 list. This puts their availability for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in doubt.
Vaccinated players who test positive can return to the team after two consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart. If McKinney continues to test negative, he will be allowed to return to the Giants’ facility on Saturday and would be able to play the next day.
The Giants will conduct all their team meetings remotely on Thursday. They will practice outdoors, as usual.
“Meetings aren’t as big of a deal, I think we learned that last year,” quarterback Mike Glennon said. “You can get away with doing the meetings virtually.’’
Coach Joe Judge said Wednesday the Giants went to virtual meetings. Players are wearing masks inside the facility and adhering to social distancing protocols, Judge said.
“We’ll talk as a staff and I’ll talk with the captains about the remainder of the week of handling meetings partially virtual and then getting the guys over here to practice,’’ Judge said. “We’ve done that in the past and it has worked smoothly.’’
Toney is dealing with an oblique strain injury that has kept him out the past three games and he was not expected to be ready to play this week. Ross has not been much of a factor on offense all season. Ximines has lost his role on defense and is a healthy scratch on game days. Brown is a special teams player. Robinson, though, has become a starter in the absence of Adoree’ Jackson, who is dealing with a quad injury. McKinney plays every snap on defense.
On Monday and Tuesday, 75 players throughout the NFL tested positive for COVID. On Wednesday, at least 29 players around the league tested positive.
Guard Wes Martin and quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski, who both tested positive last week when the Giants were practicing in Tucson, Ariz., rejoined the team on Wednesday.