The Giants were back on the practice field Thursday as they continue preparations for this weekend's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

Giants coordinators Mike Kafka, Shane Bowen, and Michael Ghobrial met with the media for their weekly press conferences prior to practice, while coach Brian Daboll spoke to reporters briefly before the session.

Here are five things we learned Thursday ahead of the Week 16 matchup.

Kafka on injuries: 'It's part of the business'

The Giants have been no strangers to injuries this season. Heading into Week 16, the Giants rank among the league leaders in players placed on injured reserve. In recent weeks, the offense has dealt with a bit of a carousel at the most important position of all. Three different players have played quarterback for the Giants over the last four games, including two different starters. The Giants have turned back to Drew Lock this week after heel and left elbow injuries forced him to miss last week's game, which in turn led to Tommy DeVito starting under center. Despite all of the injuries, assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka won't use it as an excuse for the team's offensive struggles.

"It's part of the business, it's part of football," Kafka said about all of the injuries the team has dealt with. "Really, it happens at every position, whether it's offensive line, whether it's receiver, those things happen. So, you've just got to be really prepared and making sure we're staying on top of not just the starters, but we're prepping the backups. We're prepping those guys that are kind of two, three, four down the line. It's part of our development program with getting young players that are maybe practice squad guys, getting those guys up to date and up to speed. So, that's really just part of being a coach, and it happens. It's unfortunate. You obviously don't want those type of things to happen, but when they do, you've got to work through it."

DeVito was forced out of last week's game due to a concussion, which opened the door for Tim Boyle to make his Giants debut. Boyle completed 12 of 24 passes for 123 yards, one touchdown and one interception against the Ravens, with the score being the team's first touchdown pass since Week 9.

"Boyle did a nice job stepping in, minimal reps," Kafka told the media. "It's a tip of the cap to him for just being prepared, being ready. He was meticulous with his notes, with his studying and his prep, and I thought he did a nice job out there."

Burns stepping up as leader

The Giants' defense has also been ravaged with injuries this season, especially up front. Dexter Lawrence was placed on injured reserve following the team's Week 13 matchup against the Cowboys, while Kayvon Thibodeaux had a stint on IR earlier in the year that forced him to miss five games. But one player that has been able to fight through various ailments to play every game this season has been Brian Burns.

The veteran linebacker has put together a strong campaign in his first season with the Giants. He has sacks in back-to-back games, along with five total pressures in each one. In fact, Burns ranks seventh among all defenders across the NFL in total pressures, according to Next Gen Stats. While his production has been strong, his leadership both on and off the field has left his defensive coordinator impressed.

"I wouldn't say he's our most vocal leader, by any means. But I think he's really good at kind of grabbing guys one-on-one and being in guys' ears one-on-one and addressing things that way," Shane Bowen said. "We're young. We're young. And any veteran presence you can have when you're a young defense is helpful. Whether it's outside linebacker to defensive back, outside linebacker to inside linebacker or outside linebacker to defensive line, I think it's helpful.

"The thing I'm going to say about him is he's been dealing with stuff throughout the year and he goes out there and plays. There's Wednesdays and Thursdays where we're not so sure and then he's out there Sunday flying around and putting everything on the table. That's what the NFL is. It's a 100 percent injury rate, 100 percent. Everybody's going to be banged up at some point. It's just being able to go out there and execute and play week in and week out and fight through some things that are kind of nagging throughout."

Scouting the Falcons defense

In two of their last three games since their Week 12 bye, the Falcons have held opponents to 17 points or less, including Monday night's game in which the Raiders scored just nine points. The strength of Atlanta's defense lies in its run defense, which ranks 13^th in both yards and yards per attempt allowed. However, the unit has done a good job of keeping opposing running backs out of the end zone, as their seven rushing touchdowns allowed are tied for the second-fewest in the league.

Grady Jarrett leads the way up front, while edge rushers Matt Judon and Arnold Ebiketie have both played well. Atlanta has some talent in its secondary, as well. The Falcons have one of the top safety duos in the NFL with Jessie Bates III and Justin Simmons. Bates leads the team with his three interceptions and four forced fumbles, while Simmons isn't far behind with two interceptions.

"I think they do a really good job of getting the football out," Kafka said about Atlanta's defense. "Those safeties do a hell of a job punching at the football. I think they have multiplicity in their scheme, whether it's showing two high, getting a one high. They like to disguise up front. They've got a lot of really talented players and try to make it really difficult in the run game. So, we've got a bunch of challenges across the board that we're just going to have to really put together a good plan, and I think we have a really good plan, and we're going to go out there and practice it today."

Penix 'can sling it'

The Giants will face a new challenge this week, as the Falcons are turning over the keys to their offense to quarterback Michael Penix. The rookie quarterback has been sitting behind Kirk Cousins all season, but due to the veteran's struggles, Falcons coach Raheem Morris decided to make the switch to the 24-year-old rookie ahead of Sunday's game.

Penix was selected eighth overall in this year's draft following a successful two-year stint as the quarterback at Washington. Penix was named the AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2022 after throwing for 4,641 yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions in his first season with the Huskies. This came after four years at Indiana, all of which ended early due to injuries. Penix saved his best for his final collegiate season, throwing for 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions across 15 games for Washington as he helped lead them to the College Football Player National Championship.

"He can sling it," Bowen said. "I think you go back and watch the accuracy down the field, throwing the ball down the field. He puts it in places receivers can catch it. We're going to have to do a good job making sure we defend the deep part of the field because I think he's going to take his chances throwing it, launching it. But he's got a really strong arm, good accuracy and I would say, specifically, on the deep ball."

Bowen added, "He can run. If there's space, he's going to take off. He's going to be able to gain some yards. So, got to do a good job. Can't give him big rush lanes down the middle for him to take and make it inviting for him. There's obviously a little bit more mobility than what they had there previously. So, something we got to be good, be coordinated, make sure we're all on the same page and not give him any inviting seams."

Injury updates; DeVito progressing through protocol

Burns did not participate in practice for the second consecutive day due to ankle and neck injuries. However, coach Brian Daboll said the outside linebacker "should be ready to go for the game." Burns has played through injuries for a good chunk of this season, and it appears like he's ready to do the same this weekend.

Guard Aaron Stinnie (concussion), inside linebacker Bobby Okereke (back), cornerback Greg Stroman (shoulder/shin) and outside linebacker Patrick Johnson (knee) also did not participate in Thursday's practice, all for the second straight day. While Okereke has missed the previous two games, Daboll said the team has no plans at the moment to shut the linebacker down.

As mentioned earlier, DeVito suffered a concussion in last week's game against the Ravens, which led to Boyle taking every snap in the second half. The second-year quarterback was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, and Daboll said that DeVito would do more in today's session as he is moving right along in the protocol. "I think he'll be available" on Sunday, Daboll told reporters.

Daboll also mentioned that Lock, who is still dealing with heel and left elbow injuries, did not suffer any setbacks in Wednesday's practice. Lock is still in line to start in Atlanta this weekend.