Kadarius Toney named PFF's Rookie of the Week; takeaways from Week 5
Injuries were the main storyline of the Giants' Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, as several key players left the game early and were unable to return.
However, the Giants did get a dominant performance from one of the members of their rookie class.
Kadarius Toney had a breakout game against the Cowboys, catching 10 passes for 189 yards and adding one rush for seven yards. He did this while playing 37 offensive snaps (54 percent) and running just 24 routes. Toney earned an elite 92.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, aided by an impressive 93.3 receiving grade. Heading into Monday Night Football, this was the highest receiving grade among all wide receivers in Week 5.
PFF named Toney its Rookie of the Week and selected him to its Team of the Week for his strong outing in Dallas. The 22-year-old becomes the second Giant to be recognized by PFF after the analytics site named Daniel Jones its Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Washington in Week 2. Toney was originally named the site's Offensive Player of the Week as well, but the honor was then given to Lamar Jackson after his big showing on Monday Night Football.
"Toney was a featured piece of the Giants offense against the Dallas Cowboys, generating 13 targets on 24 routes," writes PFF's Anthony Treash. "The former Florida Gator took advantage of the opportunity by producing a 93.3 receiving grade and averaging 7.88 yards per route run — both of which are top-five single-game marks among rookie wide receivers since 2010.
"Toney's combination of balance, agility and explosiveness makes him almost impossible to tackle. The first-year pass-catcher shed three tackles on 10 catches and averaged 8.9 yards after the catch per reception."
The first-round pick set a new single-game Giants rookie record with his 189 receiving yards. It was also the most yards in a game by a rookie wide receiver this season.
Toney is now tied with Arizona's Rondale Moore for second among all wide receivers with nine missed tackles forced on receptions. Jacksonville's Laviska Shenault Jr. leads the league with 10.
Here are other Pro Football Focus takeaways from the Week 5 contest.
In addition to Toney, the Giants also got some solid performances from some of their offensive linemen. Second-year tackle Matt Peart earned the second-highest mark on offense with his 69.8 overall grade. He allowed just one pressure on 44 pass blocking snaps. Additionally, guard Will Hernandez did not allow a single pressure against the Cowboys. As a unit, the offensive line did not allow a sack for the second consecutive week.
Tight end Evan Engram was second on the team with four receptions for 55 yards, including a great diving catch in the second half. Engram earned a 69.0 overall grade for his performance.
On the defensive side of the ball, safety Julian Love led the way with an 80.0 overall grade. Love registered five tackles (three solo), one quarterback hit and one pass breakup on 54 total snaps on defense. He earned an 80.9 coverage grade and 82.0 tackling grade.
Linebacker Reggie Ragland had a solid game, recording seven tackles (five solo), one tackle for loss and one pass breakup. He earned a 79.9 tackling grade and 74.9 pass rush grade. Rookie linebacker Azeez Ojulari had three solo tackles in this game, finishing with a 73.7 run defense grade.
View the best photos of wide receiver Kadarius Toney's rookie season with the Giants.
Saquon Barkley, Kenny Golladay await diagnosis; Daniel Jones in concussion protocol
Joe Judge sounded like a physician leading medical students through their daily rounds - but without providing the same detailed information - when he spoke to reporters today on a Zoom call.
Several Giants players were injured in the team's 44-20 loss to the Cowboys in Dallas and updates on their conditions are what inquiring minds on the call wanted from the coach. But Judge is loath to provide details regarding diagnosis and prognosis, so he largely stuck to the basics.
The latest injury rundown, six days before the 1-4 Giants host the 4-1 Los Angeles Rams:
*Quarterback Daniel Jones is in the NFL concussion protocol after his helmet collided with that of linebacker Jabril Cox and then hit the artificial turf on a second quarter run near the Cowboys' goal line.
Players in the protocol have no set timetable for their return to practice or game action. Before they can step on the field, players are closely monitored and must complete a five-step, return-to-participation protocol. No one can skip a step. Players advance to the next progression only when they are symptom-free. And the decision regarding their return is not made by the team, but by an independent neurologist.
"We won't know anything officially until later in the week," Judge said. "He's got a series of steps by league mandate he has to go through, so we'll wait patiently and get the other guys ready as we wait on him. Hopefully, he's out there to play. Won't have a definite answer on that until much later in the week."
If Jones cannot play, he will be replaced by Mike Glennon, who completed 16 of 25 passes for 196 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions after Jones was carted off the field.
📸 Photos: Giants take on Cowboys in Week 5
Check out the gallery below to view EVERY photo from the Giants' Week 5 divisional matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
Check out the best photos from the New York Giants' Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
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