Between COVID-19 and injuries, who will play where in the secondary is a question the Giants still can’t answer

In addition to dealing with COVID-19 and flu outbreaks that have put the New York Giants’ roster in flux, the team does have a few actual injuries heading into Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.

First, here are the nine players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

WR Kadarius Toney
WR John Ross
DB Aaron Robinson
DB Adoree’ Jackson
DB Xavier McKinney
DB J.R. Reed
DB Natrell Jamerson (practice squad)
Edge Oshane Ximines
LB Cam Brown

S Xavier McKinney

McKinney, a close contact who has not tested positive, has the best chance of any of those players to be available on Sunday.

Friday injury report

Giants

Out

QB Daniel Jones (neck)

Doubtful

OL Ben Bredeson (ankle)

Questionable

DL Austin Johnson (foot)
WR Sterling Shepard (quad)
DL Leonard Williams (triceps)

THURSDAY

With injuries and COVID-19 ravaging their secondary, the New York Giants spent Thursday’s practice trying to figure out who will play and where they align on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said Thursday morning that things were “a little funky right now” and that all he was certain of was that his guys will “be wearing blue helmets.”

Head coach Joe Judge said the team is expecting safety Xavier McKinney, on the Reserve/COVID-19 list as a close contact, to be cleared to play on Sunday.

That means the Giants should have McKinney and Logan Ryan at safety. They will have James Bradberry at one cornerback spot. Julian Love will play somewhere.

Cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (quad) is also now on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, along with cornerback Aaron Robinson. Defensive back Steven Parker missed practice with an illness.

That likely means that second-year cornerback Jarren Williams, who is technically still on the practice squad, could be a starter on Sunday. Williams has played 48 snaps the past two weeks. J.R. Reed, who has played 56 defensive snaps at safety this season, could be in line for extended duty in sub packages.

Also on Thursday, defensive end Leonard Williams practiced with a brace on to see how well it would protect his injured triceps. The Giants have not yet ruled him out for Sunday. In eight seasons, the only game Williams missed came the week he was traded from the New York Jets to the Giants in 2019.

Thursday injury report

Giants

Did not practice

OL Ben Bredeson (ankle)
DB Adoree’ Jackson (quad/placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list)
DL Austin Johnson (foot)
DB Steven Parker (illness)
LB Reggie Ragland (illness)

Limited participation

RB Saquon Barkley (ankle)
QB Daniel Jones (neck)
OL Andrew Thomas (ankle)
DL Leonard Williams (triceps)

Full participation

PK Graham Gano (illness)

Cowboys

Did not participate

CB Kelvin Joseph (illness)
OT Tyron Smith (ankle)

Limited participation

RB Tony Pollard (foot)
DE DeMarcus Lawrence (foot)

Adoree’ Jackson added to COVID-19 list

The New York Giants on Thursday added cornerback Adoree’ Jackson to the Reserve/COVID-19 list after a positive test. Jackson joins Kadarius Toney, John Ross, Oshane Ximines, Cam Brown, Aaron Robinson and Xavier McKinney.

As a close contact, McKinney could play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys if he continues to test negative. The Giants are hopeful they will get McKinney back for a walk-though practice on Saturday.

“As long as he continues to test negative we plan on him playing,” head coach Joe Judge said on Thursday.

Jackson is dealing with a quad injury and was unlikely to play Sunday.

WEDNESDAY

The New York Giants are currently looking as though they will be short-handed for a game Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys in which they are already looked at as double-digit underdogs.

The Giants have three players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list — Kadarius Toney, John Ross, Oshane Ximines. Cornerback Aaron Robinson and safety Xavier McKinney were not at practice. They are not on the Wednesday injury report, likely meaning they were absent as close contacts.

We already know that quarterback Daniel Jones (neck strain — officially) will miss a third straight game and that Mike Glennon will again be the quarterback.

The Giants held a walk-through on Wednesday and Saquon Barkley (ankle), Ben Bredeson (ankle), Graham Gano (illness), Adoree’ Jackson (quad) and Austin Johnson (foot) did no participate.

Jones, as he has been since injuring his neck against the Philadelphia Eagles, was considered a limited participant. Leonard Williams, who officially has a triceps injury, was also limited.

Did not practice

RB Saquon Barkley (ankle)
OL Ben Bredeson (ankle)
PK Graham Gano (Illness)
DB Adoree’ Jackson (quad)
DL Austin Johnson (foot)

Limited participation

QB Daniel Jones (neck)
OL Andrew Thomas (ankle)
DL Leonard Williams (triceps)