EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants today advanced from the news of the day to focus on the game of the week.
They began preparing for their home game Sunday against the Washington Redskins without two players who had been defensive starters – cornerback Eli Apple, traded yesterday to the New Orleans Saints, and tackle Damon Harrison, reportedly dealt to the Detroit Lions.
"Obviously in this business, it happens," quarterback Eli Manning said. "You hate to lose teammates, and good guys, and good players, but you just got to move on. We got a game to play. We got to keep a focus on the guys that are here, and getting ready to play this game."
"It's part of the business," linebacker and defensive captain Alec Ogletree said. "You hate to see guys leave that you've grown to start playing with and get to know. It's a tough situation, but that's the league that we're in. Things like this happen all the time, but you definitely wish those guys were still here."
Coach Pat Shurmur had turned his attention to the players who will step in and play on Sunday and beyond.
Webb has 18 tackles (15 solo), two passes defensed, and he picked up his first career sack in the Giants' loss Monday night in Atlanta. He said taking on a larger workload will not change his approach.
"I'm still preparing the same way," Webb said. "Studying my film, studying the other team, listen to the coaches. Nothing changes it's just another week and I got some more responsibility.
"I'm a fighter, so no matter what happens, no matter what happens whenever I'm a fighter. I think just taking that from each team that you got to be able to fight no matter what happens. Sometimes things don't go your way. You just got to put your head down and keep going."
That's a good lesson for all of the Giants this week.
*The Giants held a jog-thru today. Ogletree (hamstring) and wide receiver Jawill Davis (concussion) did not participate. Guard Patrick Omameh (knee) and wide receiver Russell Shepard (neck) were limited.
*The Giants re-signed tight end Garrett Dickerson to their practice squad. Dickerson played in two games before he was released Sunday to create space on the roster for wide receiver Quadree Henderson.
Statistical leftovers from the Giants' Monday night game in Atlanta:
*The Giants have gained 432, 401, and 433 yards in their last three games. It's the first time they have had three consecutive games with at least 400 total yards since Nov. 28-Dec. 11, 2011, when they finished with 465, 447, and 510 yards at New Orleans, vs. Green Bay, and at Dallas.
*The Giants have had a pass gain at least 50 yards in each of the last three games, the first time they've done that since…the same three games in the previous paragraph. Eli Manning completed passes of 72 yards to Victor Cruz against the Saints, 67 yards to Travis Beckum vs. the Packers, and 64 yards to Hakeem Nicks in a victory over the Cowboys.
*According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Saquon Barkley's 904 yards from scrimmage are the seventh-highest total in NFL history for a player's first seven career games.
*Sterling Shepard had receptions of 53 and 58 yards vs. the Falcons. He is the first Giants player with two catches of at least 53 yards in a game since Oct. 16, 2016, when Odell Beckham, Jr. had receptions of 75 and 66 yards.
*Beckham's 143 receiving yards in Atlanta increased his career total to 5,073. That moved him past Joe Morrison (4,993) and into fourth place on the franchise's career list.
*Beckham is averaging 93.9 receiving yards per game, the second-highest total in NFL history behind Julio Jones' 96.7-yard average.
*Bennie Fowler had an 11-yard catch to become the 89th different receiver to catch a regular-season pass from Eli Manning.
*Manning was sacked four times in Atlanta, increasing his season total to 24. That is the highest number of sacks he's absorbed through a season's first seven games. The previous high was 18 in 2013.
"We've got guys that we feel like can fill in and play well," Shurmur said. "I don't worry about losing these guys."
Cornerback B.W. Webb and tackle Dalvin Tomlinson are the primary beneficiaries on the new defensive depth chart. Webb has started three games this season, including two at left corner when Apple was sidelined with a groin injury. Tomlinson has started all 23 games since his arrival as a second-round draft choice last year, now the team's longest active starting streak (Harrison's 39 consecutive starts had been). The second-year pro will more often over center, where Harrison had lined up.
"He's probably a natural nose guard, so this would put him back in that position full time," Shurmur said. "We're looking forward to seeing him do good things."
Tomlinson, who has 21 tackles (10 solo) this season, has quietly been productive since his arrival here.
"Wherever they want to put me, I'm excited for it, to go out there and ball out and step up my game," Tomlinson said. "As long as I can line up and put my hand in the dirt, I'm happy. That's the biggest thing for me."
