After two weeks on the road, the New York Giants (4-9) returned home ahead of Sunday's matchup with the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys (9-4).
Big Blue is coming off back-to-back losses following three wins in its previous five games. Dallas was the exact opposite in that span, winning two in a row after dropping three of five. They meet this week at MetLife Stadium in the 120th edition of the rivalry.
Coach Joe Judge addressed the media Wednesday before his team began on-field preparations at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Here is what you need to know:
🔹 Judge announced that wide receiver John Ross and outside linebacker Oshane Ximines have tested positive for COVID-19. They join rookie wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday. Quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski and offensive lineman Wes Martin, who tested positive following the Miami game, were in the process of traveling back home at the time Judge spoke Wednesday morning. "We expect Wes to be back here this afternoon and get on the field with the trainers, start his ramp up," Judge said, "and Jerry to be in the meetings and out for the walk-through this afternoon with the players."
🔹 Judge said the team is in masks and spaced out. Anyone who has tested positive or was a close contact has been removed and will be in virtual meetings. "We'll talk as a staff and I'll talk with the captains today about the remainder of the week of handling meetings partially virtual and then getting the guys over here to practice. We've done that in the past and it has worked smoothly."
🔹 There is "no change in status" for quarterback Daniel Jones, who has missed two games due to a neck injury. He has yet to be cleared for contact but will continue to practice and participate in meetings.
🔹 Judge was asked if they've considered shutting down Jones. "We consider that with every player. We're always thinking about their health before anything else. We're not going to put a player out there when they're at an injury risk. In terms of where Daniel's at medically, we've got an entire medical team with doctors and second opinions that are going to weigh in more on that. I'm not a doctor. I've got to take the input and the advice that they give me. I'm not going to put a player on the field when they're an injury risk. When they give me the greenlight to play a player, then I know that that guy is able to go out there and play safely for that game."
🔹 Mike Glennon will start for a third consecutive week and Jake Fromm will also be prepared to play. "This isn't being coy or anything," Judge said. "Every player who's at the game can play and we have plans for every player within a role of what they would do. Do we have anything bracketed out at this point in terms of is [Fromm] going to play certain plays or anything? We do not. We do not, so we're getting Mike ready to play the game, but Jake will also be getting ready and prepare to play the game."
🔹 On Fromm, Judge was asked if he needs to see production in practice before he plays in a game. "Yeah, that's fair to say. That's fair to say and that's with any of our players. How you practice is a very good indication of how you're going to play. We have to see guys go out there and execute in practice. I can't rely on someone telling me someone's a 'gamer.' I don't even know what that is. Good players come out every day and they play. He's a young quarterback, he's still developing in this league, he's new to this system. We're going to give him the opportunity to keep on working through it, but absolutely. For any player in any position, production in practice equals opportunity in games."
🔹 Defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who left Sunday's game with an elbow injury and did not return, is expected to practice in some capacity this week. They will see how he progresses into the game.
🔹 Judge gave his usual Wednesday scouting report of the upcoming opponent. Defensively, the Cowboys are doing an "outstanding job" up front with their movement and blitz schemes. They're playing a lot of man right now and making things challenging for receivers. "Doing a very good job disrupting a lot of the quarterbacks right now and making it tough for them," Judge said. "The man coverage on the outside pressed up, the pressure on the inside, is making a lot of quarterbacks make rushed decisions and throw the ball into coverage. Getting a lot of production on the backend."
🔹 Rookie linebacker Micah Parsons, the 12th overall draft pick, has been the talk of the league. The Defensive Player of the Year candidate led the Cowboys with eight tackles and three quarterback hits in his first meeting with the Giants in Week 5. "This guy is a phenomenal player," Judge said. "I don't think anyone is surprised by that. We knew he was going to be a really good player coming out and I think it's a tribute to how they're using him down there to his strengths, how he's able to complement that defense and make a lot of impact plays."
🔹 On offense, Dallas has "a very, very talented offensive line that gives them a lot of freedom to run the ball and a lot of freedom to sit back there and have good shots down the field with good protection."
View rare photos from the historic rivalry between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.