With a Monday night game and a trip to London already under their belt, the 4-1 Giants returned to a sense of normalcy this week in terms of their schedule. But nothing about their upcoming opponent makes them feel comfortable.
Lamar Jackson, the 2019 NFL MVP, has the third-most rush yards (374) by a quarterback in the first five games of a season since 1950 and is 10-2 in the month of October as Baltimore's quarterback, including 5-0 on the road. The 3-2 Ravens have alternated wins and losses this season, most recently defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 19-17 at home. The Giants, who claimed a comeback win over the Green Bay Packers oversees for their best start since 2009, will welcome the inter-conference foes to MetLife Stadium in Week 6.
Coach Brian Daboll addressed the media before Wednesday's practice as his team began on-field preparations for their last home game until Nov. 13.
Here's everything you need to know:
🔹 Daboll talked about facing Jackson a week after going up against Aaron Rodgers, the last two league MVPs: "I'd say another significant challenge just like it was last week. This guy's extremely talented in all facets. His winning percentage since he's been a starting quarterback is 75 percent, which is one of the tops. He plays with his arm, and he plays with his legs. He's a dynamic player. He's one of the best in the league."
🔹 Fighting through an ankle injury last week, Daniel Jones came out fine from last week's game and did not appear on the first injury report of Week 6.
🔹 RB Saquon Barkley suffered a shoulder injury in London and was among eight players limited in Wednesday's practice. The others were: CB Darnay Holmes (Quad), CB Adoree' Jackson (Knee/Neck), FB Chris Myarick (Ankle), OLB Azeez Ojulari (Calf), WR Wan'Dale Robinson (Knee), QB Tyrod Taylor (Concussion), and DL Leonard Williams (Knee).
🔹 Six players did not participate in practice to start the week: CB Cor'Dale Flott (Calf), P Jamie Gillan (Not Injury Related), WR Kenny Golladay (Knee), S Tony Jefferson (Foot), S Jason Pinnock (Ankle), and WR Kadarius Toney (Hamstring).
🔹 Daboll said Gillan is making his way back from London after having an issue with his passport, which the Giants anticipated. "We knew all that. Everything that led up to where it is today, we already knew. But we'll see. Hopefully we'll see him tomorrow."
🔹 Coaches always preach "next man up" in football, but the mantra has been more than words for the Giants during their first five games. "One, credit to those guys for picking up our system as quick as they can," Daboll said. "Two, I'd say the position coaches that work with them. For example, like (Defensive Backs Coach) Jerome (Henderson) and (Assistant Defensives Backs Coach Michael) Treier, both of those guys have done a great job. (Cornerback Justin) Layne and (Cornerback Nick) McCloud out there that haven't been with us for a while. Again, always give credit to the player first, but then there's a lot of extra meeting time besides the big main team meetings to try to get those guys as comfortable and as ready as they can be."
🔹 Daboll said Taylor will transition to "normal practice after today, hopefully."
🔹 With Darius Slayton being the most recent one, the Giants have had a different player lead the team in receiving yards the last four weeks. Is it sustainable? "I think the guys we put out there did a really good job for where they were supposed to be when they were supposed to be there. They made plays on the football. (Wide receiver) Marcus (Johnson) has really come along. I think Coach Groh (wide receivers coach Mike Groh) has done a good job with him. He had some familiarity with him. He has a good skillset. And I was proud of the way Slay competed and produced. So, (wide receiver) Richie (James) has done a great job for us all year. So, I feel confident in those guys."
🔹 Rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger has "come a long way," but "he'll be the first to tell you, he's still got to keep on improving. "I'd say he's a tough-minded individual. Tight end is a difficult position to go from college – usually – to the NFL. We ask him to do quite a bit; I've been very happy with how he's approached things. I've been on him pretty early on, having coached the tight ends for a little while. (Assistant General Manager) Brandon Brown, (Director of Player Personnel) Tim McDonnell did a great job of scouting him coming out (of college). They were huge proponents of him during the draft process, and as we got to know him, what he stood for, some of the intangibles that we look for, he's done a good job. And we've asked him to do a variety of things. He just gets a little bit better each day. But again, it's a tough position. They all are, but it's a tough position to go from college right away to the NFL. And give Brandon and Tim some credit, too. They really stood on a table for him when they did their evaluations."
🔹 A major storyline this week will be defensive coordinator Wink Martindale facing his former team. How much can he tell the Giants' current staff about Jackson and their offense? "You have conversations just like, wherever I was at, if there was somebody on that team before. You always have conversations. Try to pick up as much as you can. But at the end of the day, you've got to put a good plan together, and it comes down to executing on the field. I could ask him all I want about Lamar Jackson, but we've got to do a good job. It's hard to stop him. Not many teams do it."
🔹 On Sunday, October 16, the Giants will be celebrating Latino Heritage Month in partnership with Ford and supported by Dunkin' and PNC Private Bank. Fans will be welcomed with several plaza festivities, including: Sampling of Latin cuisine, live DJ, Latin style dance exhibition, Super Bowl trophy on display (weather permitting), and more. The festivities will take place on the plaza between MetLife and Verizon gates.
For more details, visit: Giants.com/Los-Gigantes
