Giants down pair of starters Sunday
The Giants will officially be without two starters for Sunday’s contest against Washington. And they could be missing a third. Starting right tackle Marshall Newhouse (calf) and starting rookie free safety Darian Thompson (sprained foot) have been ruled out for Week 3. Both players suffered their injuries in the Giants’ 16-13 victory over the Saints last weekend.
Running back Rashad Jennings, meanwhile, was limited in practice Friday because of a left thumb injury and is questionable for Sunday.
Coach Ben McAdoo said he’s not concerned about Jennings having to alter the way he carries the football if he ends up playing. McAdoo also would be comfortable with Jennings using only his right hand to hold the ball.
“He’s a veteran back,” McAdoo said Friday. “He’s played a lot of football in this league. He’s earned his spot.”
Newhouse didn’t practice at all this week. Thompson — who the team said will be evaluated on a week-by-week basis — was limited in Wednesday’s session, but sat out Thursday and Friday’s practice altogether. Jennings has been limited in each practice.
Bobby Hart is expected to start in Newhouse’s place at right tackle, though McAdoo said Friday there’s a “possibility” he would rotate Hart and Will Beatty at that spot.
Whoever starts at right tackle will have the task of slowing down Washington defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, who McAdoo said “is one of the finest in the business of getting after the quarterback.” Kerrigan has 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in two games this season.
Nat Behre will start at free safety, McAdoo said. Behre also started the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Cowboys while Thompson dealt with a shoulder injury.
ELI’S PRECISION
In March, McAdoo said Eli Manning’s best years are ahead of him. And so far in 2016, the QB is doing his best to prove his coach right.
Manning leads the NFL in completion percentage through two games at 73.9%. He’s never finished a season above 63.1%.
He threw for 368 yards on 32 of 41 passing in last Sunday’s win over the Saints, and if not for a few untimely drops, including one by Odell Beckham, Manning would have added at least one more touchdown pass.
“We’re getting good protection. Guys are doing a great job running routes,” quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti Jr. said Friday of Manning’s hot start. “Eli’s trusting his reads, he’s playing with timing and rhythm and throwing the ball with accuracy.”