CB Janoris Jenkins's status for Thursday's matchup with the Eagles has yet to be determined:
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – When he was helped off the field early in the second quarter of the Giants' victory against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Janoris Jenkins looked as if he might be seriously injured.
The outstanding cornerback was inadvertently kneed in the back by teammate Trevin Wade defending a pass to tight end Eric Ebron. Jenkins was attended to by the team's medical personnel on the field for several minutes, helped to the sideline, and never returned to the game. But the back injury proved not to be grave.
"It is just a bruise, man," Jenkins said today. "That is what it is. … I'm feeling good. I'm feeling alright."
How that affects Jenkins' status for the Giants' game Thursday night in Philadelphia is unclear. Neither Jenkins nor coach Ben McAdoo shed much light on whether the five-year veteran will play in a game that will put the Giants in the playoffs if they win.
"I don't know," Jenkins said. "I am just focused on getting better every day and we will see what happens. … I am moving. Like I said, I am just going to continue the progress every day and we will see what happens."
Jenkins was officially limited in practice.
"It's still too early to tell (if Jenkins will play)," McAdoo said. "He moved around a little bit on the field today.
"He's a veteran player who's played a lot of football, so he'll have some input in it. But it's ultimately a medical decision."
If Jenkins can't play, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will start in his place.
Jenkins was asked if he would be more optimistic if the Giants were playing on Sunday instead of Thursday.
"I am just focused on getting better, man, each and every day," he said. "It is (a more limited timeframe), but treatment and just staying on top of it and doing the right things about it, anything is possible."
We'll find out Thursday if that's true.
*The NFL today informed the Giants of the penalties it has imposed against the team for violating league rules by using radio communication from the sideline to quarterback Eli Manning for five plays during the game against Dallas on Dec. 11. The team has been fined $150,000 and head coach Ben McAdoo $50,000. In addition, the Giants' fourth-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft will be moved to the end of the fourth-round (after any compensatory picks in that round) but no more than twelve (12) selection spots from where the Giants finished in draft order for that round. The Giants issued the following statement after being informed of the penalties: "It was a clear violation of the rules, and we accept full responsibility and the penalty."
*The NFL announced that the Giants can clinch a playoff berth with a win in Philadelphia, or a loss by ANY ONE of the following four teams: Detroit, Atlanta, Green Bay or Tampa Bay.
That news doesn't even appear on McAdoo's priority list this week.
"Doesn't have anything to do with the game on Thursday night," he said. "We have to be ready to play a game on a short week Thursday night against a division rival.
"It's just something to talk about, it's a distraction if you let it be. We need to be focused on the game on Thursday night, on getting ready to play Philadelphia. That's what this week is all about."
*McAdoo said running back Shane Vereen and quarterback Ryan Nassib will each have surgery "by the end of the week." They were placed on injured reserve today, Vereen with a torn triceps (for the second time this season) and Nassib with an elbow injury.
"His arm flared up, his elbow flared up again," McAdoo said. "It's unfortunate."
*Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who is sidelined with a core muscle injury, was the only Giants player to miss practice today.
Seven players were limited, including four who did not practice yesterday: Jenkins (back), linebacker Jonathan Casillas (knee), offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse (shoulder) and tackle Will Beatty (lower leg), plus linebacker Keenan Robinson (shoulder), long snapper Zak DeOssie (hamstring) and safety Nat Berhe (concussion).
Photos from the all-time series between the Giants and Eagles
