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TUCSON, Ariz. — There are many reasons why the Giants have been to unproductive on offense this season. The inability of their playmakers to stay healthy and on the field is at or near the top of the list.
Saquon Barkley. Sterling Shepard. Kadarius Toney. Kenny Golladay. Kyle Rudolph. All have missed multiple games and that has been a huge detriment to a team with only 18 touchdowns on offense this season, tied with the Texans for fewest in the NFL.
“Obviously, the first key element of getting the skill players involved is having them dress out on game day, which is a really important thing,” Derek Dooley, the Giants’ tight ends coach, said Thursday. “It’s hard to get them the ball when they’re in the sweatsuit.”
One of the players who spent so much time in a sweatsuit, is primed to return. Shepard has been out for the past five games with a quad strain and was able to go through a two-hour practice in full pads — he was listed as a limited participant. Barring a setback, he will play Sunday against the Chargers in Los Angeles.
Shepard has just 32 receptions for 324 yards and one touchdown. This season has been an extended downer for him, but there are five games for Shepard to salvage something.
“It’s been a bum just sitting on the sideline watching the guys, especially on game day,” Shepard said. “It already hits me whenever I’ve got to watch them practice and I’m not able to help them out with some of the reps and stuff like that. Then on game days, obviously, that’s where you get all the juice and I still have that same fire, that same juice, but I’m not able to go out there and actually perform. It’ll feel good if I’m able to get out there this week and play with the guys.’’
There is no change to the Giants’ quarterback situation. Mike Glennon (concussion protocol) remains on track to be cleared and start versus the Chargers. Daniel Jones continued to practice on a limited basis as he waits to be cleared for contact with his strained neck.
What is unusual with this situation is that Jones looks fine and is not limited in any way.
“The injury he’s dealing with has nothing to do with functional movement,” coach Joe Judge said. “It’s got to do with cleared for contact. It wasn’t a deal where he came out one day and he couldn’t throw. … There’s a lot of question marks internally as well, because this stuff is coming from doctors looking at pictures and making decisions on someone. We’re going to be very deliberate and cautious with how we make this decision.”
The Giants are in a dire situation at quarterback and, after they lost to the Dolphins, safety Logan Ryan, a former high school quarterback in New Jersey, jokingly offered his services, mentioning Tua Tagovailoa when he said, “I can throw 2-yard passes to the left, I’m accurate.” Dolphins WR DeVante Parker did not like that shot at his quarterback and on Instagram posted, “Hold that L boi keep quiet.”
Ryan after practice apologized to Tagovailoa.
“I didn’t mean any disrespect,” Ryan said. “I made a light-hearted comment about me playing quarterback. He’s a good player, he’s humble, he approaches the game the right way and he made game-winning plays to beat us and they won the game. I’m not a sore loser. I don’t hate on players in the league.I want him to know there was no disrespect there or any bad beef there, just a comment that went the wrong way. I was trying to be funny and it’s wasn’t funny.”
Toney (oblique) was able to practice on a limited basis, making progress. The only player who sat out practice entirely was CB Adoree’ Jackson, who is expected to miss another game.
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