Giants' Final Week 13 Injury Report: A Lot of Questionable Designations

The Giants are getting some starters back for Sunday's game, but they also have nine players with the questionable designation.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Giants have eight players listed as questionable for this weekend's game against the Washington Commanders and three who are listed as out.

The three Giants who won't play this weekend are offensive linemen Josh Ezeudu (neck) and Shane Lemieux (toe), and cornerback Adoree' Jackson (knee).

Those listed as questionable include running back Gary Brightwell (illness), receiver Darius Slayton (illness), receiver Richie James (knee), tight end Daniel Bellinger (eye), safety Dane Belton (clavicle), inside linebacker Carter Coughlin (thigh), center Jon Feliciano (neck), and cornerbacks Darnay Holmes (shoulder) and Fabian Moreau (oblique).

Defensive lineman Leonard Williams (neck), tackle Evan Neal (knee), and cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (concussion) did not receive an injury designation and are good to go for Sunday.

Of those Giants listed as questionable, all were limited practice participants the entire week. Brightwell, Slayton, Bellinger, Belton, Feliciano, Holmes, and Moreau should all be able to play. Coughlin's status is a bit of a question mark.

The Giants are expected to activate outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari (calf) and defensive back Tony Jefferson (foot) from the injured reserve list by Saturday's deadline. Guard Ben Bredeson (knee) will likely remain on IR for at least another week.

Thursday Injury Report

The New York Giants had Thursday off, but as per league rules, the team still had to issue a practice report.

The only changes from Wednesday's lengthy list saw running back Gary Brightwell (illness) and receiver Richie James (knee) both upgraded to a limited projection, and cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (concussion) clear the protocol. 

Receiver Darius Slayton (illness) was added to Thursday's report. 

Here is the full report. Bold denotes a change from Wednesday's report.

Did Not Participate

• RB Gary Brightwell - Illness
• OL Josh Ezeudu - Neck
• CB Adoree’ Jackson - Knee
• G Shane Lemieux - Toe
• WR Darius Slayton (illness)

Limited

• TE Daniel Bellinger - Eye
• S Dane Belton - Clavicle
• ILB Carter Coughlin - Thigh
• C Jon Feliciano - Neck
• CB Darnay Holmes - Shoulder
• CB Fabian Moreau - Oblique
• DL Leonard Williams - Neck
• RB Gary Brightwell - Illness
• WR Richie James - Knee

Full Participation

• T Evan Neal - Knee
• OL Tyre Phillips - Neck
• CB Cor’Dale Flott - Concussion  

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Wednesday Injury Report

The New York Giants were without their top return specialists during Wednesday's practice.

Punt returner Richie James (knee) has been battling his injury since Week 8 against Seattle. Meanwhile, kickoff returner Gary Brightwell, who wasn't at Tuesday's practice, missed Wednesday's session due to an illness.

While Brightwell appears to have the better chance of being ready for Sunday as a punt returner, the Giants could look at elevating Kalil Pimpleton from the practice squad.

Pimpleton, 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, initially signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent. He averaged 19.0 yards on 16 punt returns with two touchdowns last season and finished his college career at Central Michigan averaging 11.8 yards per punt return.

"Every guy on our roster from the top down, bottom up has an opportunity as far as the guys that are working back there, returning kicks," said special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey. 

"All these guys got to be ready for the opportunity, and we talk about it all the time in this room. You got to stay ready because it might be literally the night before the game to where you get a tap on the shoulder, and you’ve got to be ready to go." 

The Giants haven't had much in terms of production from their punt and kickoff return game as is, but to take a potential hit on the depth doesn't bode well if other personnel decisions need to be made.

Others who did not practice for the Giants on Wednesday include cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (knee), guard Shane Lemieux (toe), and offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu (neck). Cornerback Cor’Dale Flott (concussion) is still in the protocol and was limited Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Giants are hoping to get most if not all of the three players designated for return from IR (edge Azeez Ojulari, guard Ben Bredeson, and defensive back Tony Jefferson) this week, as well as tight end Daniel Bellinger (eye) and offensive tackle Evan Neal (knee), both of whom were not placed on IR but who have been inactive.

The Giants currently have two roster spots on their 53-man roster. Those two openings will presumably go to Ojulari, and either Bredeson or Jefferson. 

Of those two, it sounded as though Bredeson might be at least another week away from being ready. If he isn't, the Giants will likely move Nick Gates, who started last week's game at center, to left guard and reinsert Jon Feliciano, who missed the Dallas game with a neck injury, at center.

Here is the Giants' full injury report following Wednesday's practice:

Did Not Participate

• RB Gary Brightwell - Illness 
• OL Josh Ezeudu - Neck
• CB Adoree’ Jackson - Knee
• WR Richie James - Knee
• G Shane Lemieux - Toe

Limited

• TE Daniel Bellinger - Eye 
• S Dane Belton - Clavicle 
• ILB Carter Coughlin - Thigh 
• C Jon Feliciano - Neck 
• CB Cor’Dale Flott - Concussion (non-contact)
• CB Darnay Holmes - Shoulder 
• CB Fabian Moreau - Oblique 
• DL Leonard Williams - Neck

Full Participation

• T Evan Neal - Knee 
• OL Tyre Phillips - Neck

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