Brian Daboll nonetheless received’t reveal Giants’ plans vs. Eagles in season finale

It took Leonard Williams eight years to make the playoffs for the primary time in his NFL profession.

“It feels superb,” the Giants’ defensive lineman stated Thursday.

Now, for one week, he ought to relaxation.

Head coach Brian Daboll gruffly dismissed questions on his lineup plans for Sunday’s season finale on the Philadelphia Eagles. He stated he’ll make ultimate choices on Friday night time.

However it seems to be trending towards a number of starters resting, together with banged-up starters like Williams (neck) and wholesome gamers, too.

That may be prudent for the reason that Giants (9-6-1) have already got locked up the NFC’s No. 6 seed and are merely ready on their opponent: the Minnesota Vikings or San Francisco 49ers.

By rule, the media shouldn’t be allowed to report on particular personnel deployment at follow.

Candidates to play both somewhat bit or by no means, although, embody gamers similar to quarterback Daniel Jones, working again Saquon Barkley, left sort out Andrew Thomas, middle Jon Feliciano, proper guard Mark Glowinski, defensive sort out Dexter Lawrence and inside linebacker Jaylon Smith, simply to call a handful.

[ Giants are eyeing a Super Bowl, not simply content with playoff berth ]

In different phrases, a few of the staff’s high gamers, plus essential veterans whose our bodies can use some additional restoration earlier than the postseason begins.

Jones and Barkley have taken all the first reps at quarterback and working again in particular person drills in the course of the open parts of follow this week. So the Giants haven’t tipped their hand there.

Daboll hasn’t proven Sunday’s beginning offense collectively whereas reporters have been current, both, together with on Thursday when Michael Strahan stopped by to offer the membership a pep discuss.

However it will make sense for backup QB Tyrod Taylor to see the majority of Sunday’s work, if not the beginning.

And whereas incentives in participant contracts typically affect personnel choices in a season finale, the Giants don’t have any that can affect contracts this week.

Veteran large receiver Richie James already earned a $100,000 incentive by reaching 40 catches on the season, in keeping with a supply. He’s as much as 57, tied with Barkley for the staff lead.

The gamers on the sector are nonetheless going to attempt to win with the rival Eagles (13-3) battling for the convention’s No. 1 seed. However Daboll has the Giants within the dance, and the precedence must be making ready for what they hope might be a future.

Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale stated he understood the possibly dangerous optics of Kayvon Thibodeaux’s celebration subsequent to an injured Nick Foles final Sunday. However Martindale nonetheless caught up for his man.

“He didn’t know Nick Foles was harm,” Martindale stated. “He’s an excellent man and he wouldn’t have achieved that if he did know that … To me, it doesn’t look as dangerous as everyone’s making an attempt to blow this factor up as, as a result of I do know he didn’t know he was harm. I do know the man, I do know the particular person, I do know his coronary heart. I get somewhat protecting of that.”

Didn’t take part: DT Leonard Williams (neck), OLB Azeez Ojulari (ankle), follow squad DT Vernon Butler (sickness). Restricted: C Jon Feliciano (again), CB Adoree Jackson (knee). Full: S Xavier McKinney (fingers), DT Dexter Lawrence (relaxation).

Didn’t take part: OT Lane Johnson (groin), DE Josh Sweat (neck), CB Avonte Maddox (toe). Restricted: QB Jalen Hurts (proper shoulder), RB Miles Sanders (knee), LB Shaun Bradley (wrist), DE Janarius Robinson (ankle), CB James Bradberry (relaxation), WR A.J. Brown (relaxation), DT Fletcher Cox (relaxation), G Landon Dickerson (relaxation), DE Brandon Graham (relaxation), C Jason Kelce (relaxation), G Isaac Seumalo (relaxation), CB Darius Slay (relaxation). Full: CB Zech McPhearson (sickness).