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Notebook: Leonard Williams, Azeez Ojulari ruled out

LEONARD-WILLIAMS-AZEEZ-OJULARI

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Brian Daboll today declared two players out of Sunday's regular-season finale in Philadelphia, but otherwise declined to reveal any player participation plans for the Giants' rematch with the Eagles in Lincoln Financial Field.

Defensive lineman Leonard Williams (neck) and linebacker Azeez Ojulari (ankle) will both get the day off. Because the Giants are locked into the sixth seed in the NFC playoffs, it has been widely speculated how much several other starters and key reserves will play. But Daboll will wait until Sunday to let anyone outside the locker room know how he wants to deploy his personnel.

"We don't talk a lot about injuries or who's playing," Daboll said. "We go through the week of practice. We do the same thing Week 1. We have our meeting after practice. (General manager) Joe (Schoen) and I talk after practice, in the evening, Saturday. That's when we make our decisions."

Only two other players are on the team's final injury report. Cornerback Adoree' Jackson (knee) is doubtful and center Jon Feliciano (back) is questionable.

"I'd say we need another day, but (Jackson) is getting better," Daboll said. "We'll see where he's at today."

If Jackson does not play, he will miss his seventh consecutive game. Ideally, he will return for the Giants NFC Wild Card Game at Minnesota or San Francisco. Would Daboll prefer to get him game action before then?

"We'll go through today," he said. "We'll talk to the trainers and the medical staff, and we'll do what's right for the player and what's right for us."

The Eagles will clinch the NFC East title and a first-round playoff bye if they defeat the Giants. Daboll isn't concerned about the game's ramifications for Philadelphia.

"I just focus on what we need to do to try to win a game," he said. "What are our musts? Go out there, prepare well, practice – just like it was when you were asking me this is for the playoffs. We just focus on the week. That's, again, my mentality. That's what it'll always be. That's the consistent approach that I try to use."

View rare photos of the historic rivalry between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

*Like everyone else in the NFL and around the country, Daboll has been heartened by the good news coming out of Cincinnati regarding Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills. Daboll was the Bills' offensive coordinator last season when Hamlin was a rookie safety.

Hamlin's breathing tube was removed this morning and he spoke via Zoom with his Buffalo teammates and coaches. He remains in intensive care in the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he was taken Monday night after collapsing and then receiving CPR on the field in the first quarter of the Bengals-Bills game.

"Awesome," Daboll said. "It's probably uplifting for the entire league, hearing what you just heard when I was coming out here. Just so thankful that he's trending in the right direction. But it gives you a boost because you're praying so hard for the young man. To see him improve, or to hear about him improving the way he's improving, it's just, it's an awesome thing. It's awesome."

View photos from practice as the Giants get ready for their regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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