Jan 112023
 
Mike Kafka, New York Giants (October 7, 2022)

Mike Kafka – © USA TODAY Sports

JANUARY 11, 2023 NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
OC Jon Feliciano (back), DL Leonard Williams (neck), OLB Azeez Ojulari (ankle), CB Adoree’ Jackson (knee), and S Jason Pinnock (shoulder) were limited in practice on Wednesday. “Yeah, I think everybody will practice,” said Head Coach Brian Daboll before practice. “Maybe some will be more limited, but I’m encouraged where everybody’s at.”

S Xavier McKinney (fingers) fully practiced.

PANTHERS AND TEXANS INTERESTED IN MIKE KAFKA…
Media sources are reporting that the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans are interested in interviewing New York Giants Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka for their head-coaching vacancies. Teams are not allowed to interview Kafka until January 17th.

PRACTICE SQUAD MOVES…
The Giants have re-signed defensive lineman Vernon Butler and signed wide receiver James Washington to the Practice Squad. Butler was cut from the Practice Squad last Friday.

The 26-year old, 5’11”, 216-pound Washington was originally drafted in the 2nd round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After spending four years with the Steelers, Washington signed with the Dallas Cowboys in March 2022, but spent most of this season on Injured Reserve with a broken foot. The Cowboys cut him last Wednesday. Washington has played in 61 regular-season games with 25 starts, catching 114 passes for 1,629 yards and 11 touchdowns.

To make room for these two players, the Giants terminated the Practice Squad contracts of defensive lineman Jack Heflin and signed offensive lineman Solomon Kindley, who was on the Practice Squad, to a Reserve/Future contract, thus removing him from the Practice Squad. The 6’4”, 339-pound Kindley was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins waived him in August 2022 and the Giants signed him to the Practice Squad in October. Kindley has played in 29 regular-season games with 15 starts.

HEAD COACH BRIAN DABOLL…
The transcript of Brian Daboll’s press conference on Wednesday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available on YouTube.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

NOTES…
The Giants are making their 33rd post-season appearance, which ties them with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the third-highest total in NFL history, behind Green Bay and the Dallas Cowboys at 35 apiece.

The Giants are 24-25 all-time in the playoffs. They were 4-13 prior to the 1970 merger and are 20-12 since. In post-season play, the Giants are 12-9 at home, 8-15 on the road and 4-1 in neutral site Super Bowls. Since the merger, they are 8-4 at home, 8-7 as visitors, and 4-1 on neutral fields.

The Giants are 6-5 in Wild Card games (3-2 at home, 3-3 on the road), 5-6 in the divisional round (3-2 at home, 2-4 on the road), and 5-0 in conference championship games (2-0 at home, 3-0 on the road).

The Giants are 2-1 in the postseason vs. Minnesota. All three games were played in Giants Stadium.

Head coach Brian Daboll coached in 30 post-season games as an assistant coach – 24 with New England (nine appearances) and six with Buffalo (three appearances). Those teams were 23-7, including 4-1 in the Wild Card round and 5-0 in Super Bowls.

The Giants have rushed for a touchdown in a franchise-record 15 consecutive games.

Quarterback Daniel Jones led all qualified passers in the league with a 1.1 interception percentage in the regular season (a career-low five interceptions on a career-high 472 attempts).

The Giants’ six interceptions this season tied for the fewest ever by a playoff team, joining the 2004 Rams and 2021 Raiders.

Graham Gano made 29-of-32 field goal attempts (90.6%) and 32-of-34 extra point tries. Two of his missed field goals included a blocked kick vs. Carolina on September 18 and a 58-yarder into the wind on the last play of overtime in the 20-20 tie vs. Washington on December 4. He set a Giants record with eight field goals of 50+ yards, one more than he had in 2021.

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The Giants practice on Thursday afternoon (12:45-2:30PM). The coordinators and select players will also address the media.

Jan 062023
 
Leonard Williams, New York Giants (October 30, 2022)

Leonard Williams – © USA TODAY Sports

JANUARY 6, 2023 NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
DL Leonard Williams (neck) and OLB Azeez Ojulari (ankle) did not practice on Friday. Both have officially been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

OC Jon Feliciano (back) and CB Adoree’ Jackson (knee) were limited in practice. Jackson is “doubtful” for the game while Feliciano is “questionable.”

S Xavier McKinney (fingers) fully practiced. He is expected to be available for the game.

PRACTICE SQUAD MOVES…
The Giants have terminated the Practice Squad contract of defensive lineman Vernon Butler, who has missed practice this week with an illness. His spot was filled by defensive lineman Jack Heflin, who the team cut from the Practice Squad on Monday.

HEAD COACH BRIAN DABOLL…
The transcript of Brian Daboll’s press conference on Friday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available on YouTube.

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
There is no media availability to the New York Giants on Saturday as the team travels to Philadelphia to play the Eagles on Sunday.

Dec 152022
 
Azeez Ojulari, New York Giants (December 11, 2022)

Azeez Ojulari – © USA TODAY Sports

DECEMBER 15, 2022 NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
OG Josh Ezeudu (neck), OG Shane Lemieux (toe), OLB Elerson Smith (Achilles), CB Adoree’ Jackson (knee), and CB Nick McCloud (illness) did not practice on Thursday.

WR Richie James (concussion), TE Daniel Bellinger (rib), DL Leonard Williams (neck), and OLB Jihad Ward (concussion) were limited in practice.

LB Micah McFadden (neck/ankle) fully practiced.

ROSTER MOVES – ELERSON SMITH PLACED ON INJURED RESERVE…
The Giants have placed outside linebacker Elerson Smith on Injured Reserve, the fourth time this has occurred in his two seasons with the Giants. His season is over. TheAthletic is reporting that Smith will undergo surgery next week for a nagging bone spur near his Achilles. Smith was placed on Injured Reserve in late August 2022 with a foot injury and was activated off of IR in late October. He played in five games in 2022, accruing just three tackles. He also blocked a punt. The Giants drafted Smith in the 4th round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The Giants placed Smith on Injured Reserve in early September 2021 with a hamstring injury that caused him to miss all of training camp and the preseason. He was activated from Injured Reserve to the 53-man roster in early November. The team placed him on Injured Reserve again in early January 2022 with a neck injury. As a rookie, Smith played in eight games with no starts, finishing with just eight tackles, two quarterback hits, and one forced fumble.

To replace that roster spot, the team signed defensive lineman Ryder Anderson to the 53-man roster from the Practice Squad. Anderson has played in three games this year with one start, being credited with three tackles and one sack. The Giants signed Anderson as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Giants also signed defensive lineman Jack Heflin to the Practice Squad. The 24-year old, 6’3”, 304-pound Heflin was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Green Bay Packers after the 2021 NFL Draft. He made the 53-man roster in 2021 but spent most of this year on the Packers’ Practice Squad. The Packers cut him on Tuesday. Heflin played in four regular-season games in 2021, being credited with one tackle.

THE COACHES SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The players practice on Friday (11:45AM – 1:00PM). Head Coach Brian Daboll, the position coaches, and select players will also address the media.