EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Game day has been torture for Devon Kennard the last two weeks.
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The Giants' second-year strongside linebacker strained a hamstring on Oct. 4 in Buffalo and was inactive for the team's victory over San Francisco and loss in Philadelphia. But Kennard has practiced all week and is listed as probable for the Giants' Sunday showdown with the Dallas Cowboys in MetLife Stadium.
"It was brutal," Kennard said of watching games he wanted to play in. "It feels really weird sitting at home when the guys I've been sweating with all offseason, all preseason, and all camp are working their butts off and playing and I'm watching from home. It gave me a little hunger, and I'm excited to get out there with my teammates. My deal is always earn my teammates' and my coaches' respect. Even though it was only two weeks, I want to come back and do that again and just earn their respect by the energy I bring when I'm on the field and how hard I play for my brothers next to me.
"I just want to be out there with my teammates. I can't wait to strap it up again and go to war with my guys."
Kennard said he will be at full strength on Sunday.
"I feel good, I'm ready to go," he said. "It's up to the coaches in what packages and what they have me doing, but I'm feeling good. This week has gone well, so going to go out there and let it rip."
Keep an eye on these five players as the Giants face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday
LT ERECK FLOWERS While all eyes are on the Cowboys' offense with injuries to Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo and an All-Pro receiver in Bryant, their defense is getting back to full strength. Right defensive end Greg Hardy and middle linebacker Rolando McClain are back from four-game suspensions, and the rookie Gregory, the Cowboys' second-round pick, is looking like he'll play for the first time since Week 1. "They've got a real good defensive line," left tackle Ereck Flowers said. "They've got a lot of depth, so it's going to be a good game. We're saying it's going to be a four-quarter game."
WR ODELL BECKHAM JR. Like last week, second-year wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has missed practiced because of a hamstring leading up the Giants' game against the Cowboys on Sunday. While coach Tom Coughlin hopes it's a short-term plan, it might become the norm as long as Beckham is ready by game day and continues to lead all receivers like he did in Philadelphia. This will also be the first game against the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium since "The Catch" launched Beckham's rookie season into orbit. "It's just kind of one of those things," Beckham said. "You've got to maintain and get as many reps as you can, whether they're physical or mental. So right now, like I said, get as many mental reps as you can and make sure you come out prepared, stick to the game plan."
![RB ANDRE WILLIAMS
As the last NFL team without a 100-yard rushing game this season, the Giants have shown flashes this season but haven't run the ball consistently as they split the carries between Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams, and Shane Vereen (Orleans Darkwa is used primarily on special teams). Overall, Jennings leads the group with 66 rushes for 243 yards, followed by Williams (45 for 127) and Vereen (29 for 101). Last year Williams led the team in rushing as a rookie, and more touches might help him get into a groove once again.
"For Rashad, it doesn't seem to be [hard to get into a groove]," Coughlin said. "For Shane, it doesn't seem to be. I do think that, quite frankly, Williams probably needs more carries. But under the present system, it's something that we have to deal with."](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/yn6ka9zsiy7ecvmtn0vw.jpg)
RB ANDRE WILLIAMS As the last NFL team without a 100-yard rushing game this season, the Giants have shown flashes this season but haven't run the ball consistently as they split the carries between Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams, and Shane Vereen (Orleans Darkwa is used primarily on special teams). Overall, Jennings leads the group with 66 rushes for 243 yards, followed by Williams (45 for 127) and Vereen (29 for 101). Last year Williams led the team in rushing as a rookie, and more touches might help him get into a groove once again. "For Rashad, it doesn't seem to be [hard to get into a groove]," Coughlin said. "For Shane, it doesn't seem to be. I do think that, quite frankly, Williams probably needs more carries. But under the present system, it's something that we have to deal with."
SAFETY BRANDON MERIWEATHER No Giants player is as familiar with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Matt Cassel as Brandon Meriweather. The Giants hope that knowledge proves useful this week. Cassel will make his initial start for the Cowboys on Sunday after he was acquired in a trade with Buffalo on Sept. 22. Cassel takes over for Brandon Weeden, who started three games after Tony Romo fractured his collarbone in Philadelphia on Sept. 20. Cassel got his first extended opportunity to play in 2008 after Tom Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opener. Cassel led Patriots to 10 wins, but the Patriots missed the playoffs despite an 11-5 record. Meriweather, who signed with the Giants in mid-August, played in every game with 11 starts as a second-year safety on that team. "Matt was an athlete," Meriweather sad. "He was a good runner and he had a strong arm. When he got his time to shine, he capitalized on it. He was that one player that if anything happened to Tom, could go in there and step up."
LB DEVON KENNARD The Giants' second-year linebacker is itching to get back on the field after missing the last two games with a hamstring issue. Before the injury, Kennard racked up 25 tackles and four passes defensed so far this season, including his first career interception in the Buffalo game when he was injured. The Giants pulled off a thrilling 30-27 victory over San Francisco a week later but then fell 27-7 to Philadelphia, snapping a three-game winning streak in the process. "Two weeks felt like freaking two months," Kennard said. "I can't wait to get out there. I love the way our defense is competing and playing week in and week out. And I want to be a part of it. I want do what I can to help us win."
Kennard will likely be welcomed back along with defensive end Robert Ayers, who missed the previous four games with a hamstring injury. That should boost a front seven that has just seven sacks in six games, and had none in an opening-night loss to the Cowboys in Dallas.
"Hopefully, that part of the game will be better," coach Tom Coughlin said. "Obviously, Dallas has an outstanding offensive line. We would have some people that have demonstrated the ability to at least make the quarterback uncomfortable."
Kennard doesn't have a sack this season, but he had 4.5 as a rookie in 2014, when he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance on Dec. 7 at Tennessee, where he had six tackles, 2.0 sacks, two tackles for losses and a forced fumble.
The Giants' front wants to constantly hound quarterback Matt Cassel, who will start for the first time in a Cowboys uniform in place on the injured Tony Romo.
"I think that's a point of emphasis just for our own pride," Kennard said. "We didn't get enough pressure on the quarterback the last time we played them, and we want to change that this time around. So that's definitely something we want to improve and it starts with our front four. They're going to get opportunities, and I think they're up to the task.
"I've always been taught it takes four to get a sack - or at least four, we can be blessed with more than that. We've got to work together. On the back end, get some good coverage and allow those guys to go hunt."
When the teams met on Sept. 13 in Dallas, the Cowboys drove 72 yards in just six plays and 1:27 and scored the game-winning touchdown when Romo threw an 11-yard pass to Jason Witten with just seven seconds left. That late sequence still bothers the defensive players.
"It's definitely something you think about, but you've got to move on," Kennard said. "It's in the back of our minds, just the idea of we have to finish this game. We want to win this game for the opportunity just to get up in this division, and it's a divisional opponent. We were in the game last time around and we want to just make sure we play four quarters and do our thing. We have to really go out and play four full quarters and we can't let up."
After two weeks of sitting and watching, Kennard is ready to help his teammates do just that.
*Four Giants players have been listed as questionable on the Giants' injury report: wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (hamstring), linebackers Uani 'Unga (neck) and Jonathan Casillas (neck), and cornerbacks Trumaine McBride (groin) and Brandon McGee (back).
Asked if he expects Beckham to play Sunday, coach Tom Coughlin said, "I'm counting on that, yes."
If 'Unga can't play, Mark Herzlich would likely split time with Jon Beason at middle linebacker. Herzlich started the previous two weeks for Kennard. Jasper Brinkley would also be a candidate for playing time.
*In addition to Ayers and Kennard, players listed as probable for Sunday are defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins (calf), wide receiver Rueben Randle (hamstring), linebacker Jon Beason (knee), cornerback Trevin Wade (concussion) and Kennard.
*Cornerback Prince Amukamara (pectoral) and wide receiver Victor Cruz (calf) are out.
*Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant, who has not played since breaking his foot on opening night against the Giants, is doubtful. Bryant did not practice all week.
