The New York Giants are preparing for a critical matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, with a particular focus on containing running back Saquon Barkley and exploiting the Eagles' offensive line struggles. The Eagles, once considered an NFL standard for blocking, are entering Sunday's game with a reshaped offensive line.
Injuries and departures have altered the Eagles' front five. With Lane Johnson retired and Cam Jurgens traded, the starting offensive linemen for the Giants' upcoming game are listed as Drew Kendall, Tyler Steen, and Markel Bell, flanking veteran left tackle Jordan Mailata and left guard Landon Dickerson. Defensive tackle Shelby Harris acknowledged the challenge, stating, "The idea is you don’t want them to establish themselves against you. They’re still physical, they’re humungous size-wise across the board, so it’s just go out there and don’t let them be the determining factor of the game."
The Eagles' offense has struggled this season, ranking 27th in rushing yards per game. A hobbled Saquon Barkley has not exceeded 83 rushing yards in any single game this season. "I’m expecting [Barkley] to be healthier than he has been so far," Harris added. "If he’s going to play, I expect to get the best out of him — full-on star Saquon Barkley. And we’ll have to stop him in order to be successful."
In other team news, wide receiver Malik Nabers (knee) did not practice, while edge rusher Abdul Carter (illness) returned to full participation. Several other players, including Darius Alexander (foot), Jermaine Eluemunor (calf), Charlie Jones (hand), and Andrew Thomas (groin), were limited participants. Offensive lineman Malik Harrison (groin) and cornerback Colton Hood (illness) were upgraded to full participants.
Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who previously worked with Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in Chicago, expressed respect for Fangio's defensive schemes. "What [Fangio] does is some of the best ever in the history of this game as a defensive coordinator," Nagy said. "He’s always adapting his defense. He understands what the weaknesses are of the offense."
Third-string quarterback Jake Haener was released after practice and could return to the practice squad if he clears waivers. The team also discussed the possibility of cornerback Deonte Banks returning punts, a role he previously filled, especially with Tyrone Tracy Jr. sidelined.