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At least one playmaker is on the verge of returning to the Giants.
Darius Slayton (hamstring) is expected to play Sunday against the Panthers after a three-game absence, which helps the Giants avoid the worst-case scenario of being without their top seven pass-catchers. It’s a bit of optimism among more discouraging developments on the injury front.
Tight end Evan Engram (calf) and receivers Sterling Shepard (hamstring) and John Ross (hamstring) all are in danger of making sure the Giants have more firepower on the sideline than in the huddle. All three are listed as questionable and were limited in Friday’s practice.
As expected, running back Saquon Barkley (ankle) and receivers Kenny Golladay (hip) and Kadarius Toney (ankle) will not play.
“I’ve just been taking it day by day, trying to put together a couple days of practice,” Slayton said. “I feel good and just getting myself ready for the game.”
NFL injury reports no longer include a “probable” designation, so Slayton is questionable, too.
“I definitely hate that [injury bug] for my teammates,” Slayton said. “I know they want to play. Obviously, I want to have them all out there with me, but the guys that are going to play Sunday are going to step up and make it happen.”
The Giants are optimistic about Engram’s chances, but he has a long history as a slow healer. He has missed 15 games due to various injuries over the past four seasons, including two earlier this year with the initial calf injury.
Head coach Joe Judge implied that Shepard will be a game-time decision, after an apparent setback in his hamstring recovery. Shepard played 68 offensive snaps last week after missing two games. He was not on the injury report Wednesday, but reappeared Thursday.
Ross missed the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury. Then Shepard and Slayton suffered hamstring injuries just minutes apart in Week 3.
There is a noticeable uptick in soft-tissue injuries compared to last season, which was a multi-year low for the Giants, according to Judge.
“There are a number of things that factor into that and we’re making sure we account for everything,” Judge said. “There have been some injuries you just can’t avoid, and some other ones you have to look at internally in terms of what you are doing.”
Safety Xavier McKinney had two interceptions against the Rams but could’ve had a hat trick. So what does he think about more?
“The one I dropped,” McKinney said. “I work on that every day. It’s something I should catch, so it’s something that I will catch next time.”
Two in one game is nice. But it’s not seven interceptions in six games like Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs, a close friend and former Alabama teammate of McKinney’s.
“I always knew he would be that way,” McKinney said. “I know how he works, so I’m not surprised.”
The rest of the injury report includes DT Danny Shelton (pec) as doubtful for the Giants. The Panthers listed WR Terrace Marshall, FB Giovanni Ricci and LB Shaq Thompson as out and WR Alex Erickson and OT Cam Erving as questionable.
Wes Martin and Matt Skura are expected to split reps at left guard for the third straight game. There is a chance Martin will become the Giants’ 10th different starting offensive linemen in seven games.
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