The New York Giants will wrap up their 2024 home slate this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.

With Christmas landing on Wednesday, the Giants switched their practice schedule up this week, taking the field on Tuesday and giving the team off for the holiday.

The team returned to the Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday to resume preparations for Sunday's game. Giants coordinators Mike Kafka, Shane Bowen, and Michael Ghobrial met with the media for their weekly press conferences, while coach Brian Daboll also briefly spoke to reporters before practice.

Here are five things we learned Thursday.

1. Another tough test for the run defense

Over the last three weeks, the Giants have faced off against three of the top running backs in the NFL. Starting in Week 14, the defense has been tasked with slowing down the likes of Alvin Kamara, Derrick Henry, and Bijan Robinson, all of whom have enjoyed a ton of success this season. While Robinson did total 94 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries last week, the Giants' run defense has seen an improvement over the last few games compared to earlier in the year.

"I think the guys are playing hard," defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said. "I think they're battling up front; they're fighting. I think the backers are doing a good job to get downhill. They're effective, I think tackling has been improved in some areas, especially from the back end moving forward here. Just really haven't seen the really, really big ones. So, we've been able to do a good job of eliminating the really big ones. Where those, there might be a 10-to-12-yard gain here and there. But it's not turning to 40, so it's been a big part of it. And the guys are playing hard, they're flying around. And they're accepting the challenge and they're taking advantage of their opportunities and they're making the most of it."

As if going up against Kamara, Henry and Robinson the last three weeks wasn't enough, the Giants will now try to slow down Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, who is fresh off one of the best games of his NFL career. Going up against the Titans' solid run defense, Taylor exploded for 218 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries, good for an average of 7.5 yards per carry. Attempting to contain Taylor and the Indianapolis run game will be yet another tall task for Shane Bowen's unit.

"Another really good back," the defensive coordinator said about Taylor. "Obviously, coming off a really big game last week. Got some experience with him, obviously, being in division with him for a few years there. Patient, if you give him a crease and he finds it. Really good vision. Burst through the hole, gets on second and third level really quickly and obviously able to hit the home run at any moment. So, we got to do a good job, hopefully setting edges and building a wall and not giving him creases inside that he can find and exploit."

2. Kubas latest rookie to step up

The Giants have gotten plenty of contributions from their rookie class this season. The latest first-year player to step up when his number was called was undrafted guard Jake Kubas. With Aaron Stinnie out due to a concussion, Kubas started the first game of his NFL career and put together a solid performance. The 24-year-old played well in the run game and was credited with just one total pressure allowed on 44 pass blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

"Jake was a bright spot for me," assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka told reporters Thursday. "I think seeing a young guy step in, he played physical. Sure, there was things he can get better at, plays that maybe he missed here or there. But, overall, I thought it was a big step forward for him."

While we still have a few days to go until gameday, Kubas could be looking at another opportunity to start this weekend. Stinnie has progressed to a full participant at practice as he continues to work through the concussion protocol, but for the second consecutive day, center John Michael Schmitz was unable to practice due to an ankle injury. Brian Daboll said veteran Greg Van Roten would take some practice reps at center in case Schmitz can't suit up Sunday, and if that's the case, Kubas would slot in to replace Van Roten at guard. Van Roten was added to the injury report Thursday as a limited participant due to a knee injury, so his status should be monitored leading up to Sunday.

No matter who ends up starting up front on Sunday, Kafka is confident that Carmen Bricillo and James Ferentz will have their guys ready to go.

"Whoever's in there will be ready, will be ready to rock and roll. Carm does a great job with that group and James, getting those guys prepared, whether it's guys that have been here for a while or guys who are just stepping in. Young guys, old guys. Older guys, I should say. But they do a really good job with that, getting those guys prepared."

3. Kayvon's progression

After missing five games in the middle of the season due to a wrist injury, outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux has been a welcome addition to the defense over the last month. The third-year edge rusher picked up three total pressures against the Falcons last week, which marked the third time in his last four outings that he's had three pressures.

"I thought he had a really good game last week," said Bowen. "I do, I thought he played physical. Obviously, he missed a lot of time there in the middle of the year, which is a big part of- I mean, we talked to all these guys about improving as the season goes and then you get unfortunately injured and you're on the shelf for however long. But I've been pleased with the way he's progressed and what he's put on tape here these last few weeks. And really last week, I thought it was probably one of his better games, like flying around, playing physical. And he's done some really good things for us."

Thibodeaux has at least one quarterback hit in nine of the 10 games he's played this year and a total of 13 on the season, with five of them coming in the last four games. Bowen told reporters that he has seen some growth from the young outside linebacker since he returned from injured reserve in Week 12.

"The physicality, the attack, playing on the other side of the line scrimmage in the run game has shown up," Bowen said on what has stood out about Thibodeaux's game in recent weeks. "Made some really good effort plays. The one on third down last week was a heck of a play, being able to get him down, chasing from behind. So, pleased with where he's at. Hopefully, he continues to improve and get better and show up on Sundays for us."

4. Muasau 'playing fast'

Inside linebacker is the latest position on the Giants' defense to get hit with the injury bug. Bobby Okereke last played in Week 13 and was placed on injured reserve last week, thus ending his season early. Now Micah McFadden is dealing with a neck injury he suffered against the Falcons, which has kept him out of practice Wednesday and Thursday. Darius Muasau saw a big uptick in playing time once Okereke got hurt, and the rookie linebacker has risen to the occasion with the expanded opportunity. Now that McFadden is in danger of missing Sunday's game, the Giants may need to lean even more heavily on the 23-year-old linebacker.

"He's doing a really good job for us," Bowen said about the rookie. "I think he's playing fast, him and Micah both playing fast in there, flying around, been disruptive. I think the front's been disruptive up front, allowing those guys to run around a little bit, to be a little bit clean, to go make plays. And he's physical, he's got some instincts. So, he's done a good job with the opportunities he's had, and hopefully that continues here in these last couple weeks."

Muasau was the Giants' sixth and final selection in this year's draft. Unlike the other members of his draft class, it took Muasau more time before he was getting consistent, extended action in games. After Muasau started the last three weeks for the injured Okereke, his defensive coordinator pointed out some noticeable improvements he's seen from the rookie in recent weeks.

"He comes to work every day, works hard, he's smart," Bowen told the media. "Don't see him make the same mistakes twice, which I think is a pretty good indicator as a coach when you have young guys that are able to learn from their mistakes, where we can progress and move on, and they can move forward. Let's learn something else now and focus on something else. We kind of got that handled, whether it's learned by fire or not, which a lot of times when you play young guys, it is that way. I've been really pleased with him, and I think he's taken advantage of his opportunity, and hopefully that continues."

5. Injury updates; Nabers, Tracy don't practice

For the second consecutive day, the Giants were on the practice field without two of their top offensive playmakers in wide receiver Malik Nabers (toe) and running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (ankle). The toe injury is a new one for the rookie wideout, who has played through various ailments for a large portion of the season. As for Tracy, the rookie back aggravated an ankle injury against the Falcons.

It remains to be seen if either rookie is able to get back on the field in time for Sunday's game against the Colts. Nabers told reporters in the locker room Thursday that he is going to try to practice on Friday, but that he is likely going to be a "game day decision."

As previously mentioned, center John Michael Schmitz also did not practice Thursday because of the ankle injury he aggravated in Atlanta. If Schmitz is unable to suit up, guard Greg Van Roten will shift to center and Kubas will slot in for Van Roten, although Van Roten (knee) was limited on Thursday so his status will have to be monitored over the next few days, as well.

Also not practicing for the Giants were cornerback Greg Stroman (shin/shoulder), safety Raheem Layne (knee), inside linebacker Micah McFadden (neck), and defensive back Dee Williams (toe).

On the status of all of the injured Giants, Brian Daboll told the media "we'll see where they're at tomorrow."

Safety Dane Belton (knee), cornerback Dru Phillips (knee), defensive lineman Jordon Riley (knee), and defensive lineman Armon Watts (shoulder), all of whom were projected as limited participants on Wednesday, were upgraded to full participants on Thursday.