Eli Manning needs young Giants receivers to make plays
Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants gestures during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Credit: Jim McIsaac
It takes the combined receiving yards of the next three players behind Odell Beckham Jr. on the Giants’ stat sheet to add up to the production that their second-year star has given them this season: 1,396 yards and 13 touchdowns. So with Beckham suspended for Sunday’s game against the Vikings, it’s clear others will have to raise their game exponentially.
“Young guys will be put in position to make plays,” Eli Manning said. “We’re going to run our normal offense. We’ll put guys in a position to do what they do well and to get open. We’ll have to make plays, but we’ve got guys who can do that.”
The Giants also may be without Dwayne Harris, who was sidelined on Wednesday by a shoulder injury and had his arm in a sling. That leaves Rueben Randle, Hakeem Nicks, Myles White and rookie Geremy Davis to pick up the slack.
“Odell is an outstanding player, it’s not a player you replace,” running back Rashad Jennings said. “It’s a player you miss out on the field, but it’s a great opportunity for all the other guys in this locker room that we have, completely capable of going out there and getting the job done. I’m excited to see everybody else get an opportunity to step up and find a way to help us get a win.”
Richburg snubbed
Giants C Weston Richburg has had a stellar season but was not among those invited to the Pro Bowl.
“I told myself that I wasn’t going to be disappointed,” he said. “Nobody really knows who I am, maybe because it’s my first year at center, but I feel like I played well enough.”
Richburg is the highest graded center by Pro Football Focus this season, which may be some consolation. Still, it’s no trip to Hawaii. “From what I did,” he said of his credentials for the all-star game, “I thought I played well.”
Giant steps
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he has little doubt that RB Adrian Peterson (ankle) will play Sunday despite missing Wednesday’s practice . . . the Giants placed FB Nikita Whitlock (knee) on injured reserve and re-signed veteran safety Brandon Meriweather who was cut by the team last week. Meriweather was needed with safety Cooper Taylor sidelined by a concussion this week … DE George Selvie (concussion) was limited in practice but allowed no contact.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
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