Giants' secondary prepared for Vikings' focus on struggling passing game
Giants safety Jabrill Peppers signals to his fellow defenders during the first half against the Redskins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Daniel De Mato
The Vikings’ receivers are unhappy. The Giants’ defensive backs are aware of it.
That’s why safety Jabrill Peppers said they are bracing for quarterback Kirk Cousins to try to air it out against them on Sunday.
“We know they are going to take some shots this week,” Peppers said Thursday. “Kirk already has apologized to those guys, so we know he is going to look to get them the ball more.”
The Vikings’ discord about their 31st-ranked passing offense has gone public. After last week’s 16-6 loss to the Bears, wide receiver Adam Thielen told reporters that the team needs to be able to throw the ball and hit deep passes, and on an in-house podcast, Cousins apologized for not doing just that. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs expressed his unhappiness by skipping practice Wednesday (he returned Thursday).
The Giants’ defense has been much improved of late. It has allowed six points on two field goals in the last three halves of play against Tampa Bay and Washington. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins is the reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his two interceptions.
Some players may focus on X’s and O’s and film study, but Peppers said watching the headlines emanating from the team he is going to face can provide some good perspective, too. This may be one of those cases.
“I think everything helps,” he said. “At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter, but you have to know what to expect. [Cousins] knows he has playmakers who voiced their opinions, and he is going to try to get his playmakers the ball. I don’t think that’s worrying too much.That’s just the reality.”
Notes & quotes: LB Alec Ogletree (hamstring) did not practice Thursday. G Kevin Zeitler (shoulder) and T Nate Solder (neck) were full participants after missing reps because of injuries on Wednesday . . . LB Tae Davis (concussion) was limited but practiced without a non-contact jersey.
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.
