In keeping a tight lock on updates regarding Xavier McKinney’s broken hand, Giants head coach Brian Daboll let a few other injury updates slip out.
Cornerback Aaron Robinson is “doubtful” to return this season, according to Daboll, after he injured his knee Oct. 2 and landed on injured reserve. Robinson was penciled in as a starting cornerback in the preseason but his second NFL season amounted to just two games when the knee injury was combined with an appendectomy that forced him to miss two games.
Defensive tackle Nick Williams, who started seven of the first eight games, is out for the season with a biceps injury, Daboll said.
Even if Richie James is cleared from the concussion protocol this week, it is no sure thing that he will retain his job as the punt returner after two lost fumbles significantly cost the Giants in a loss to the Seahawks immediately before the bye week. James has three fumbles on 24 fielded punts, including fair catches.
“We have a lot of people competing for that spot,” Daboll said. “And we’ll see where it goes.”
Right tackle Evan Neal (knee) and tight end Daniel Bellinger (eye) were the only players on the active roster who did not practice Tuesday.
The six punt returners during the open portion of practice Tuesday were Slayton, Adoree’ Jackson, Wan’Dale Robinson, Darnay Holmes, James (in a non-contact jersey) and Kalil Pimpleton. Exposing a top cornerback or receiver to extra big hits seems like a risky way to go for a shorthanded depth chart, though Holmes was first up after James’ concussion.
The undrafted rookie Pimpleton — who averaged 11.8 yards per punt return and had two touchdowns on 48 attempts in his career at Central Michigan — is on the practice squad and eligible for one of the two game-day elevation spots, but the Giants are short-handed at defensive line and secondary, too.