Giants juggling secondary

Injuries force some receivers to practice as defensive backs.

The New York Giants are so short of players in the secondary that rookie coach Ben McAdoo had to have a couple of his receivers play safety in practice.

McAdoo would not identify the guys who got shifted Thursday nor would he say whether any of them might be used Monday night when the Giants (2-1) face the Vikings (3-0) on the road.

Who knows? Imagine Odell Beckham Jr. back there . ... He did it in the Pro Bowl.

The truth is the Giants need some bodies in the secondary, and it’s not just safety. They are hurting at cornerback, too.

Let’s start at safety. Rookie starter Darian Thompson missed last weekend’s game with a foot injury. He is still wearing a boot. His backup, Nat Berhe, is in the concussion protocol after being hurt Sunday against the Redskins.

Second-year safety Mykkele Thompson went on injured reserve Sept. 20 with a knee injury.

That leaves starter Landon Collins, Andrew Adams, who was signed off the practice squad late last week, and veteran cornerback Leon Hall, who has shifted to the back line.

Janoris Jenkins is the only healthy starting cornerback. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin) and first-round draft pick Eli Apple (hamstring) had to leave Sunday’s game. They did not practice Thursday. If neither can go, veteran backup Trevin Wade and rookie Michael Hunter are next up.

The only good thing for the Giants is the Vikings are 31st in the league in offense and 28th in passing.

Browns: Suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon says he’s entering a rehab facility to “gain full control of my life.” Gordon is serving a four-game suspension for multiple violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

He was eligible to return next week, but the troubled 25-year-old released a statement Thursday saying he decided to “step away from pursuing my return to the Browns and my football career to enter an in-patient rehabilitation facility.”

Cowboys: Dez Bryant missed medical appointments and team meetings over two days away from the team this week as the star receiver tried to avoid bad news about his injured right knee.

Coach Jason Garrett said Bryant missed an MRI on Monday and a team meeting Tuesday before finally getting the exam Wednesday. The MRI revealed a hairline fracture in a bone in his right knee, which he injured in last Sunday’s win over Chicago. It’s possible Bryant could play Sunday at San Francisco.

Bills: Coach Rex Ryan isn’t yet ready to rule out Sammy Watkins from playing at New England on Sunday after the receiver missed his second straight practice because of a sore left foot.

Ryan doesn’t expect Watkins to practice today either, and says the plan is to see how Watkins feels Sunday before deciding if he’ll play.

Ryan is encouraged about the possibility of starting left tackle Cordy Glenn returning after missing two games with a sprained left ankle. Glenn practiced on a limited basis for a second consecutive day.

Bears: Quarterback Jay Cutler did not practice Thursday, one day after returning on a limited basis for the first time since suffering a thumb sprain Sept. 19. As a result, backup Brian Hoyer continues to run the offense.

The Bears are also without their top two running backs and rookie Jordan Howard appears to be the starter Sunday against the Lions.

Panthers: Coach Ron Rivera says running back Jonathan Stewart will miss his second straight game Sunday with a hamstring injury when Carolina visits Atlanta. Stewart, who was injured in the team’s Week 2 win against the 49ers and hasn’t practiced since, will be re-evaluated Monday.

Carolina will also be without first-round pick Vernon Butler. The defensive tackle is expected to miss a few weeks with a high ankle sprain.

Jets: Wide receiver Eric Decker sat out his second straight practice with a shoulder injury, increasing the possibility he could miss Sunday’s game against the Seahawks.

Redskins: A frustrating rookie season for wide receiver Josh Doctson is showing no signs of letting up. Doctson’s sore Achilles could sideline him for a couple more weeks, according to coach Jay Gruden.

AP Janoris Jenkins (20) is the only regular cornerback the Giants could have available as they prepare for Monday night’s game at Minnesota after Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin) and Eli Apple (hamstring) were injured Sunday.