Sour Apple tussles with Engram, later limps off field with knee pain

Eli Apple got both reprimanded and injured during Saturday’s practice, and the Giants have to hope both Apple’s behavior and left knee hold up, because they need his Agame desperately this season.

Most urgently, Apple hurt his left knee and had to be helped off the field after getting his feet tangled with wide receiver Hunter Sharp in a late 11-on-11 period, ending Apple’s day.

The third-year corner walked off the practice field under his own power and, when asked if he was O.K., Apple told the News with a thumbs up: “Yeah, I’m straight.” But he was walking with a noticeable limp, and head athletic trainer Ronnie Barnes and a team doctor were giving Apple a lot of attention on the sideline.

Before the injury, head coach Pat Shurmur threw both Apple and tight end Evan Engram out of an 11-on-11 period after Engram took exception to Apple diving near his legs. Apple got up, both players shoved, and Engram threw the ball at Apple. Both players’ actions would have been penalties in a game, so Shurmur gave them a breather.

Apple left the defensive huddle under some protest, though, escorted by an assistant to the sideline. And this is noteworthy given Apple’s many issues last season, including an early Week 5 benching for reportedly speaking back to coaches during practices.

Apple’s health and stability at outside corner are critical to this team’s success. The Giants are banged up badly at DB — Sam Beal is out for the year; Donte Deayon, Curtis Riley, William Gay all are out with hamstring injuries. And they signed Leonard Johnson after working out multiple veterans on Friday.

Chris Lewis-Harris, who had a good practice Friday, filled in for Apple on the outside with the firstteam defense when Shurmur sent Apple off the field, and B.W. Webb was in the slot.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, released by the Giants this offseason, remains a free agent, though he is working out with the Seattle Seahawks this weekend, per ESPN.

Saturday’s practice was chippy overall, so much so that Shurmur actually stopped it not long after the Apple-Engram tussle to briefly address the entire team.