Things move quickly leading into a Thursday night game.

As the Giants prepare to play for the second time in five days, the team returned to the Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Tuesday in advance of the primetime matchup with the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium.

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The day began with the Giants bringing back veteran defensive tackle Kenrick Ellis and releasing wide receiver Preston Parker, who recorded five receptions for 43 yards through the first two games. He was targeted 12 times by Eli Manning. Ellis, a former Jet, signed with the Giants as a free agent in March but was released on Sept. 6.

After not playing in the NFL in 2013, Parker joined the Giants last season and became the team's third-leading wide receiver with 36 catches for 418 yards and two touchdowns.

"Preston Parker, for the majority of time he was here, was a very tough, physical football player who made plays when called upon," coach Tom Coughlin said. "That hasn't been the case necessarily this year. We thank him for his service."
Coughlin also said the move was no indication of Victor Cruz's availability. Rather, the decision was made partly because the Giants thought they needed to bring in another defensive lineman, Coughlin said.

Cruz has not played in a game since suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 6 of 2014. However, it is now a calf injury holding him back.

Cruz was among several players who will not practice today, including left tackle Ereck Flowers (ankle), defensive tackle Markus Kuhn (knee) and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (concussion protocol).

Coughlin was asked if he would be comfortable with putting Flowers, the Giants' first-round draft pick, right back out there if he is okay on Thursday.

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"Depends, depends what 'okay' means," Coughlin said. "Is he going to be able to function properly? Does he know exactly what he's doing? This is a week in which you could say that anybody who can go through a jog-through can be prepared. And I think he'll mentally be ready. I think he could do some of the jog-through stuff, but they're going to be very conservative and make sure that he has a good grasp of the healing process."

Meanwhile, Coughlin said linebacker Jon Beason (knee), defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins (hamstring) and right guard Geoff Schwartz (illness) will all participate on Tuesday.

The Giants will need all hands on deck as they search for their first win of the season against a Washington team that improved to 1-1 with a victory over St. Louis in Week 2.

In that game, the Redskins' two-headed rushing attack of Alfred Morris and rookie Matt Jones broke out for 182 yards on the ground, while quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 23 of 27 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown.

"Well, I think that they have gone ahead and decided to do exactly what they like to do there—run the football," Coughlin said. "And they're also a great defense, they're playing outstanding defense as well. Second in pass defense, as well as fourth against the run."