Eli Manning not the cause of Giants' woes
Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants looks on during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 3, 2014 in East Rutherford, N.J. Credit: Mike Stobe
Whatever is wrong with the Giants, it's not Eli Manning's fault.
That's what Tom Coughlin said yesterday, noting that he's been pleased with the play of his quarterback who has not thrown an interception in his last 145 pass attempts, a career high, but has also lost three straight games.
"An awful lot was done to ensure that Eli be given a chance to come back and play very well this year," Coughlin said . "I think that the quarterback rating [94.9, which would be the highest of Manning's career] attests to that. It wasn't quite as high the other night as it has been. But his play has given us a chance."
Manning was off a bit on Monday against the Colts, throwing several passes high and missing targets. He also had more than a few passes dropped.
"I think we just have to make the plays that are out there," Manning said. "Each player kind of went through a phase where they kind of made a mistake or missed a play, or missed a throw, or missed a dropped pass, or didn't execute something quite as well. We've just got to make plays that are there and execute at a high level."
Jennings not ready
Rashad Jennings likely will miss a fourth straight game with an MCL sprain when the Giants face the Seahawks on Sunday. The starting running back was not scheduled to practice with the team on Wednesday evening.
"He has done running," Coughlin said. "Straight ahead. I think he started to do some cutting, but I don't know if there is a full menu or diet of that coming. He is running, though."
The Giants' rushing presence has wilted in his absence. They averaged 121 yards per game in the five games Jennings started and 92.6 in the three since his injury.
Giant steps
Coughlin seemed pleased with the tests on guard Weston Richburg's right ankle after he was carted off the field in Monday's game. "They called it a sprain," Coughlin said, adding that the rookie starter is "progressing." He called Richburg day-to-day ... DE Mathias Kiwanuka (knee) was added to the Giants' injury report ... DE Jason Pierre-Paul, who missed practice last week with a shoulder injury and appeared to aggravate that injury in the game, was not on the injury report ... DT Cullen Jenkins (calf) was scheduled to take part in individual drills during practice.
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.
