Head Coach Brian Daboll

Q: Where are you at physically with some of the guys? Anybody coming back?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I'd say if we were practicing today, everybody would practice, except (cornerback) Adoree' (Jackson) wouldn't practice today again and (cornerback) Dru (Phillips) wouldn't practice today. Everybody else would practice.

Q: Any chance for IR for either one of those guys?

BRIAN DABOLL: I don't think so. We'll see.

Q: But not looking good for Thursday for any of them?

BRIAN DABOLL: We'll see. Go all the way to the end like we normally do.

Q: So, you sound optimistic that (cornerback Nick) McCloud will be able to play?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I mean, we're not doing physical activity, but that's my hope.

Q: Where are you at with that cornerback position at this point? Who's going to play?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, we've got a couple more days. We'll see where everybody's at. Tomorrow night, Thursday morning.

Q: Deonte Banks has not gone into the slot very much. Do you have comfort, confidence that he could do it if that's what is called for on Thursday night?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, if that's what we thought was best to do game plan-wise. Tough opponent, really good player. (Cowboys wide receiver) CeeDee (Lamb), they've got a lot of good players. So we've been burning it pretty good here.

Q: Injuries aside, we've talked about having a very young team. Do they just bounce back better than on a short week physically?

BRIAN DABOLL: No, I think it's always difficult for these guys on a short week, the routine. Again, you've got to play them when they're called upon. We're doing the best we can. Our walkthroughs, extra meetings, extra walkthroughs. We'll do a little bit of a jog through here today. But we've got to put everything we've got into it.

Q: The Cowboys' success against the Giants in the last six, seven years has really been marked by both sides of the line of scrimmage, the trenches. How much better do you think you guys are today on both sides of the line of scrimmage than you were even last year?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I would just say that our guys are doing everything they can do to get ready to play a good team. And the only thing that matters is this game.

Q: When you're building a team, though, are you building it, Obviously, you're hand-in-hand with (Senior Vice President and General Manager) Joe (Schoen) in the offseason on building a team. Are you building it with the strengths of your divisional opponents in mind?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, you certainly look at that. But you try to do the best job you can of building the team that you think gives you the best chance for that particular season or year or game.

Q: You didn't commit to (kicker) Greg (Joseph) one way or the other yesterday as the kicker for Thursday night. Where are you at in that situation?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, it's going to be Greg.

Q: You went into last week talking about (Browns defensive end Myles) Garrett and how much of a guy you have to identify. I assume (Cowboys linebacker Micah) Parsons falls in that class. If not, very close.

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, dynamic player. He's lined up in a variety of spots. He has the ability to play really any position. Explosive, athletic, tough. He's a hell of a football player. One of the better players in the league. A challenge to block him.

Q: I would assume if you just look at the numbers, it would be just run the ball against them. But I assume it's not that simple?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I think this is unique. There's three games in. You've got three games to look at. You can go back to Minnesota with (Cowboys Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Mike) Zimmer. But all three of those kind of took on a life of its own. The Cleveland game was kind of touch and go there for a while until the end of the second quarter, the early part of the third quarter. Then they get up. So, you call games differently based on how things are going in the game. New Orleans got off to a fast start. They were up 35-13 or whatever it was at the half. And the same thing with Baltimore. The unique thing is in the fourth quarter, they scored a bunch of points there to make it a game, 28-25. Baltimore hit a couple third-down conversions, a big one. (Ravens wide receiver Zay) Flowers over there. So, each of them are a little bit different. When you're up that much or down that much, you look at tendencies and things like that. But as the game goes, play callers call things differently based on situations you're in, down and distances, score. So those numbers are those numbers. But I think the games are all different, and you evaluate how they call it.

Q: You've talked a lot about how much (running back Devin) Singletary is a reliable guy. At what point do the fumbles kind of chip away at that?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, we've got to do a better job of taking care of the football. And he knows that, and he will.

Q: What do you think of your tight ends' play?

BRIAN DABOLL: I think it's been good, yeah. Again, we play a certain style each week. Their job is to do a good job in the run game. We've had some, in terms of them staying in for protection. So, they're doing a good job with that. I think it's a tough group. I'm pleased with them.

Q: How is (tight end) Theo (Johnson) coming along?

BRIAN DABOLL: Good, yeah.

Q: You worked out four tight ends yesterday. What were you looking for?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, again, that's the normal procedure during the year. We'll see. (tight end Lawrence) Cager will probably be down here on IR, so we need some more guys to come in for legs. Show team. The tight ends play quite a bit of football, physical. We've used a lot of multiple tight end groupings. So, for look teams and show teams down the road, I think we need some legs.

Q: Can you speak at all to the adjustment that a tight end goes through from college to the pros? It seems like it's rare for a rookie tight end to come in and just go off.

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, it's a difficult position to play. I think Theo's done a great job. (Tight Ends Coach) Tim Kelly's really done a great job with him. Based on how they come out of the college, the things they see, they're involved in so many aspects of the game. Having coached it, you never have enough individual time with the tight ends because they've got to be in tune with the line, they've got to be in tune with the passing game, the protections. There's a lot of things to cover in that room. I'm not saying it's like the quarterback room, but there's so much to cover, and they kind of get dragged in different areas. Protection meeting here, run game meeting here, pass game meeting here, and then you're like, I've got 10 minutes of individual time. They do a good job. They meet early. He's a smart young man. He's done a nice job.

Q: You've shown a willingness to play younger players, to play rookies, have them come in, and you've got a bunch of guys playing this year.

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, Joe told me the most in the league right now.

Q: I didn't know that.

BRIAN DABOLL: Percentage wise.

Q: I appreciate the homework. But in terms of being selective, how selective are you as a coaching staff, for you personally, to know what a guy can handle, and can a guy handle making mistakes? Some guys make mistakes, put their heads down, walk away. Some guys are able to just plow through. How do you play that?

BRIAN DABOLL: I think that's based on the individual player. I don't think it's just rookies. It could be a five year. You have to know the player, understand what makes them tick, and what doesn't. For young players, they're going to make mistakes. Everybody's going to make mistakes. But young players, that's why you play them, because you think they have good talent. They're going to go through some growing pains here and there. But you can learn from them, learning from the things that show up. And then as the season goes on, you see improvement from those young players. And I'd say I have confidence in all our young guys, all our rookies. They have the right DNA. They work hard. They're smart. They care about football. They're good teammates. It's important to them. And then you have good veterans in the room that help them along the way. So, they've all been through it, the veterans. And the right mindset for our young players is important. The type of people we bring in is important to us. And I've been impressed with all of them, how they've handled things. Good or bad.

Q: The last time you played a home game, your fans made their displeasure known. What do you say to your fan base entering this game?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I would just say over the last two games on the road, too, it's been outstanding support on the road. At Washington, it was outstanding. At Cleveland, there was a lot of people. So, again, our job is to go out there and play and perform well and love our fans and hopefully give them something to cheer about.

Q: Just back to Singletary real quick. He's been in the league, he's a veteran. What are you doing to eradicate the fumbling, that he has to take care of the ball better?

BRIAN DABOLL: No, he knows that. He's a pro. Yeah. He'll work on that. I've been around him a bunch. So, again, you can't let one bad or two bad plays define a lot of the good things. So, you keep working on your ball security, and he'll do that.

Quarterback Daniel Jones

Q: Have you ever beaten the Cowboys?

DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I think we beat them a few years ago. But all these games are different. I think we'll be prepared and ready to go.

Q: Is it getting sick though? I mean, they beat you six in a row and 12 of 13.

DANIEL JONES: Yeah, we don't like losing to anybody, especially a divisional game. We understand what this game means, and we'll be ready to go.

Q: Structurally, how much different is what the Cowboys are doing under (Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Mike) Zimmer versus what they did under (Commanders Head Coach Dan) Quinn?

DANIEL JONES: I'd say it's a good bit different overall. There's personnel similarities here and there, but the scheme and the system is different.

Q: Mostly coverage combinations, what they're doing in the back end or what they're doing up front is different or both?

DANIEL JONES: I'd say both, yeah. Some of the fronts and pressure looks are different. Coverages are different too. We'll be ready to go.

Q: They're not stopping the run. Is it as simple as, 'we're going to run the ball until they stop it'?

DANIEL JONES: I think (Head Coach Brian Daboll) Dabs has a good feel for calling it and seeing how the game is unfolding. But we have confidence in our ability to run the ball, our ability to throw the ball. And we'll do what's best to score points.

Q: How much does your relationship on the field with (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers) have to change at times, so you don't become predictable, or folks aren't just concentrating there?

DANIEL JONES: I think I'll continue to see what the defense is doing and read out the play and throw the ball where it's supposed to go. So, if that's Malik, I'll continue to do that. If it's other people, then I'll do that too. So, I have confidence in all our guys. And Malik's played well, but we've got a lot of good receivers.

Q: You seem to roll out a lot out of the playbook less. You throw more screens, more swing passes. Are you becoming more diversified with the offense now?

DANIEL JONES: I thought we did a really good job mixing up some of the stuff and keeping them off balanced with some of the stuff we're doing on those drives and credit to Dabs and the offensive staff on the plan they put together and then how we called it. But I think that's tough to defend when you're shifting and moving, then doing a lot of different things, a lot of different kind of tempos to the play.

Q: How do you think you've changed since the last Cowboys matchup?

DANIEL JONES: I've played more, seen more, studied and improved. Obviously, didn't go great last time, but we're confident, it's a new team. We're a new team, they're a new team, and we're excited for the opportunity.

Q: What have you seen from your o-Line through the first three games?

DANIEL JONES: I think they've played well. We've run the ball well, protected well, it's a good front we played last week in Cleveland and (Browns Defensive End) Myles Garrett, one of the best rushers in the league. I thought we did a good job for the most part against him. A lot of confidence in those guys and I think they played well.

Q: How do you feel about having that kind of protection that you haven't had in years past?

DANIEL JONES: Yeah, it gives you a lot of confidence to be able to see the field and find the open guy, get the ball out of my hands, all those things. Like I said, I have a lot of confidence in those guys.

Q: How do you guys get more out of your tight ends?

DANIEL JONES: Try to convert some opportunities we have. I think we've got a lot of confidence in those guys. Every game's going to play out a little bit differently in terms of what the defense is doing and specific calls that they have on when we call play. And that's the way it's going to work out sometimes. But we have a lot of confidence in them, and they had a great training camp and I'm sure they'll show up big for us.

Q: (Running Back Devin) Singletary has had fumbles in two straight games. How do you think he's bounced back and how important has it been for you guys to just go right back to him after that?

DANIEL JONES: Yeah, he's a pro, played a lot of football. We have a lot of confidence in him and that's not changing any of our confidence. He's played well, come back and been big time for us. No one's losing confidence in that.

Q: Can you talk about the year (defensive tackle) Dexter's (Lawrence) had? He seems like he's getting doubled every play and he's still making plays.

DANIEL JONES: Yeah, I think that's not surprising to anybody in here. Everybody knows how good of a player he is and how much he can affect the game and affect the quarterback, it's huge. No one's surprised, and he's played well.

Q: What's the toughest part about the short turnaround? Is it the physical part or the mental part preparing for your opponent?

DANIEL JONES: I think the physical part for most guys, it's just shorter week and you don't have as much time to rest and recover, get your body back to 100 percent. You've got to make the best use of your time and make sure you're sleeping well, doing all the things you need to do to recover. But we do a good job mentally, from an install standpoint and walk throughs, learning the game plan and going from there. But I think physically, guys have just got to lock in and understand what they need to do to get their body back ready to play.

Defensive Lineman Dexter Lawrence II

Q: Do you feel these Giants-Cowboys games seem to always come down to the trenches, the line of scrimmage? Do you feel, (outside linebacker Brian) Burns is here now, and your offensive line seems to be playing the best, from a team captain standpoint, are the Giants better suited now, in the trenches, to handle the Cowboys than they've been in years past?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I feel like, like you said, every year it comes down to the trenches. I don't think we've slacked in other years in the trenches. They just beat us as a team. This year, having new additions, I think we could be better. I have confidence in us to go out here and win this game and that's the message on the short week.

Q: Do Giants-Cowboys games, I know they mean more, do they hit different? Like, are you more sore after a Cowboys game? Is it more physical than a regular game?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I'm the wrong person to ask. I'm in the middle of every play on every drive, so every game feels like 60, 70 car crashes to me. And that's just being real.

Q: I think you're the right person to ask, because you take the biggest collisions.

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Right, so every game feels the same to me, is what I'm saying. I can't say that the Cowboys hit more harder than another team, because I'm always opposing my will, so that's what it is.

Q: How do you process that game the last time you guys played here a year later? Is it something that still bothers you?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I honestly forget about it, unless somebody brings it up, then I'm like, 'Oh, that did happen.' But last year is last year, this is a new year. I'm ready for Thursday, and that's what I got to say.

Q: You guys haven't sacked (Dallas Cowboys quarterback) Dak Prescott the last four times you guys have played the Cowboys. Obviously, I would assume that has to change for you guys. Do you feel like that has to change for you guys to have a chance?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: That's going to change. I feel like we can get after him pretty good. We just got to hone in on the plan and execute it well.

Q: What is it about their offense that catches your attention?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: (Dallas Cowboys quarterback) Dak (Prescott). He's a special quarterback. We got to do a good job rattling him and getting to him. He has a quick trigger, so we got to do well in the back end covering, making him look at his second option, third option. We got to do well up front getting to him.

Q: What do you think makes him (Dak Prescott) special?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: He's a big dude. He can run. He likes to sit in the pocket, but when he evades, he's also dynamic throwing the ball down the field. We just got to make sure we keep him in the pocket and bring him down.

Q: Will it work in your favor that they're struggling to run the ball?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: Yeah, that's the main thing, a key if we can stop the run. Making it second and long, third and long. That's the key to stop the run.

Q: Are you sick of losing to them (the Dallas Cowboys)?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: I'm sick of losing to anybody. I don't hold more weight on one game than the other. They all hit the same. They all count the same. I want to win regardless. It doesn't matter against who or how we win. I just want to win.

Q: The bar is incredibly high for you. Did you feel like last week was one of your best games?

DEXTER LAWRENCE II: You all ask me questions like… I don't know. I don't know. I don't look at the stats at the end of the game. I don't look at the praises. I don't look at nothing. I just prepare for the next week. Because at the end of the day, the goal is to win the Super Bowl. My stats don't matter. If I have none and then we win, then I'm happy. It doesn't matter to me. I just want to win.

Wide Receiver Malik Nabers

Q: On the game against Dallas…

MALIK NABERS: I'm just excited to go out and play.

Q: How crucial is this game though? Chance to go 2-2, playing the Cowboys at home. You're going to get something going here?

MALIK NABERS: It's a conference game, so it's going always feel good to go against your conference, try to get a win out there.

Q: Does playing under the lights in prime time mean anything to you? Does it amp it up at all?

MALIK NABERS: No. It's a regular game.

Q: Is it the same with playing the Cowboys?

MALIK NABERS: It's football. A game is a game. Every time I go out there, a game is a game. No matter what day it is, a game is a game.

Q: Last time we talked to you, you didn't have a chance to actually go look back at the catches you made the other day. What did you think when you saw them?

MALIK NABERS: They were good catches, but I've made some way better catches than that. I'm not surprised by it, it's just how I play, it's how I am.

Q: When did you make better catches than this?

MALIK NABERS: I always make some crazy catches in practice, so I'm excited to see how the practice can translate to the game.

Q: Next time you got to do it with one hand? Is that the key?

MALIK NABERS: Just focus on catching the ball, really. That's really it.

Q: The touchdown grab I'm curious, what goes through your mind when you're making that, because you were able to not only go up but you contorted your body, like twisted. Are you thinking that? Is it just like your body does that naturally? How does that happen for you?

MALIK NABERS: How my mind was going, when I (saw) where the ball was going, I just jumped. And I didn't want to try to fall backwards, and hopefully my body was going to keep traveling back and I wouldn't be able to get my foot in. So, I caught it and just kept my body moving and turned my waist. Then my feet just followed my waist. After I turned around, I saw where I was and I knew I had some extra room, so I just tried to get two feet down.

Q: You watched that game last night? I know you did, because you commented about it. What were you thinking when you saw that?

MALIK NABERS: Rookie of the Week is over with (laughs). I told him, after he saw me play, he was like, 'Yeah, I've got to go dumb on Monday.' I was like, 'I'm rooting for you, just don't go too hard though.' And he did exactly that.

Q: How much fun you having right now?

MALIK NABERS: I'm having a lot of fun, a dream come true.

Q: They called that pass play for you in the red zone, but can you throw it?

MALIK NABERS: Yeah, I can definitely throw it. Check out that film at LSU. I can definitely throw it.