Cornerback Corey Webster practiced a bit last week and was on the field again Wednesday working on a limited basis as the Giants began their work for Sunday night’s game against the Redskins at FedEx Field.
Webster has missed three straight games and seven of the past nine, first with a strained groin and more recently with a high ankle sprain. His return could come a week too late for the Giants.
When Trumaine McBride was forced out against the Cowboys, the Giants moved safety Antrel Rolle into the nickel corner role he has filled before, but not this season.
Rolle was picked on by Tony Romo on the fateful final drive. Rolle allowed three first downs and 45 yards while in coverage on the Cowboys’ game-winning drive, according to Pro Football Focus, after allowing one first down and 36 yards in the four-game winning streak. Rolle took responsibility for the coverage lapses, but said he hasn’t practiced at nickel corner for five weeks, making his press coverage technique rusty.
The Giants could have put Jayron Hosley in at nickel instead of Rolle on the series, but Tom Coughlin said there were concerns about Hosley coming off a strained hamstring.
“He’s had some issues and trying to extend him to the point where he feels like there’s enough endurance there that he doesn’t have an issue,” Coughlin said. “That’s where we are.”
Eli Manning is clean-shaven, No more beard now that the Giants’ four-game winning streak is no more.
“Just looked at it and thought it was time,’’ Manning said. “I had it during the winning streak, I guess. I shaved it during the bye week. I don’t know what it was. Just a beard, I guess.”
The Giants can sit back on Thanksgiving and gain ground on the Cowboys, who play the Raiders, but the time for scoreboard watching has come and gone.
“We’re done trying to look at other teams’ losses, other teams’ wins,” Victor Cruz said. “We just want to focus on ourselves and what we have to do in order to win.”
Coughlin called the season-ending knee injury to center Jim Cordle “very unfortunate’’ because Cordle “has done an outstanding job for our team whether he was the starter or the backup. He’s been very, very consistent in the way he’s gone about his work.’’ Coughlin said Kevin Boothe will start at center and James Brewer will start at left guard.
Coughlin on coming back from losses as tough as the Cowboys game: “It’s not easy. Those losses hang around a long time when you’ve been in it as long as I have.’’ … RB Brandon Jacobs (knee), CB McBride (groin), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder) and CB Terrell Thomas (knee, weekly maintenance) did not practice. Coughlin said he expects Pierre-Paul will be hampered by the shoulder issue the remainder of the season and added “I have no idea’’ when asked if JPP will need surgery following the season. … DB Ross Weaver (Michigan State) was signed to the practice squad.