Coach Brian Daboll took the podium before Wednesday's practice as the New York Giants (3-8) gear up for their final game before the bye week. They will host the New England Patriots (2-8), who are coming off their break and looking to snap a three-game losing streak. The Giants did just that a week ago, bookending a three-game skid with victories over the Washington Commanders.

Here's what you need to know from Daboll's Wednesday presser:

🔹 Wide receiver Darius Slayton, linebacker Bobby Okereke, defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, and tackle Evan Neal did not practice today. Running back Saquon Barkley had a rest day.

🔹 Cornerback Adoree' Jackson is still in the concussion protocol but returned to practice as a non-contact participant.

🔹 Lawrence has a hamstring injury while Okereke has been dealing with a sore hip and rib.

🔹 The Giants announced that quarterback Daniel Jones underwent successful surgery this morning to repair his ACL. The procedure was performed by Dr. Scott Rodeo at Hospital for Special Surgery.

🔹 The Giants opened the window for rookie running back Eric Gray to return to practice. Gray, a fifth-round draft choice (172nd overall), has not played since Week 7 because of a calf injury that landed him on injured reserve. Gray thus far has been used primarily as a return specialist but has 13 rushing attempts for 27 yards in seven games, the bulk of which came in Week 5 at Miami.

🔹 Daboll spent a total of 11 seasons in two stints on New England's coaching staff and helped the team win five Super Bowl titles (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX and LI). Daboll's positions included defensive assistant, wide receivers coach, offensive assistant, and tight ends coach. So, how surprised is he to see the team with a 2-8 record?

"I'd say you never treat any team differently regardless of their record when you're preparing for a game. You do the best job you can each week to try to put a good plan together, have a good practice and play a good team. You watch those games, there's five games they have – Philadelphia, opening game, they've got an out route. He gets his foot in, they've got a chance, 24-17. They played Miami the next week, 4th-and-four, get three yards. (Patriots tight end Mike) Gesicki flips it back. Played Washington, goes through the receiver's hands, they intercept it on the last drive to at least get a field goal. Play Indianapolis, get an interception down (in) the redzone. The Raiders game was 19-17, under two minutes, 3rd-and-15, (Raiders defensive end Maxx) Crosby goes ahead and gets a sack, now it's 21 and they get the ball back. That's five games right there, a few plays here or there, it's a different story. Got a lot of respect for the people in that organization, the players, the coaches. Just got to prepare and try to do our best to play a good game."

🔹 In Foxborough, Bill Belichick has been non-committal about his starting quarterback for this Sunday. "I told all the players the same thing: be ready to go, so hopefully they will be," Belichick said. "It will be based on what I think is best for the team."

How do the Giants prepare for that? To sum it up, Daboll has studied them all. But here's his full answer: "Well, it adds to it. Went back and watched 2019, played December 22nd. December 29th against the Colts and the Saints, so watched (Patriots quarterback Will) Grier's games there and then watched his game against Las Vegas where he played pretty good after they made a trade for (Cowboys quarterback Trey) Lance in San Francisco. Watched (Patriots quarterback Malik) Cunningham's snaps, 60 offensive snaps, a lot of them at receiver, some at quarterback. Watched last year when (Patriots quarterback Bailey) Zappe played and went 2-0 – was it Detroit and Cleveland? Also came in in the Green Bay game, came in a couple times. Obviously, the Indianapolis game at the end of the game there, they took (Patriots quarterback) Mac (Jones) out, so there's a lot of tape. Some more than others. Mac has played a while for him. I've had experience with Mac when he was a true freshman at Alabama. I thought he did – all of them were really good college players, Mac had an exceptional senior year. Fought through playing behind (Dolphins quarterback) Tua (Tagovailoa) and (Eagles quarterback) Jalen (Hurts) with the right approach, right attitude, the right mindset and had a really good senior year, broke a lot of records. I'd say Zappe goes to Houston Baptist then he transfers over to Western Kentucky and has over 60 touchdown passes. Grier was at Florida then he transferred to West Virginia, had a good West Virginia (career). There's some tape to watch with all those guys. You spend time watching them then you watch their offense and you see what (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach) Billy O'(Brien)'s doing. They're a good plan team, this is a good game plan team anyways whether it's defense, offense, special teams, a lot of tape to watch."

🔹 On Wednesday, the NFL announced that Okereke has been named the Giants' nominee for the 2023 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, which recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field. In just his first season with the Giants, Okereke was voted a team captain and is tied for fifth in the NFL with 105 tackles. He shares that spot with eight-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner, who is this year's nominee for the Seattle Seahawks. "He's done a nice job for us. He's made a lot of plays, smart player, he's a very good teammate. I'd say it's not always easy to become a leader when you're in the first year of a program where you come in as a new free agent. He's done that. He's been a good leader for us, not just on the defensive side, but for the entire team. He's consistent with his approach. Smart, instinctive. He's been good for us.

🔹 The Giants will move up the starting time of practice on Thanksgiving Day. Daboll discussed a few options with the captains last week, and that's what they decided. "They wanted to keep it a normal week. So, we'll push up the time that we start, and then they'll get out a little bit earlier than they would. Fairly normal."