GIANT NOTES
Players who weren’t on the roster at the start of the season – or midway through the season, for that matter – and were not supposed to be anywhere near the field will be filling significant roles for the Giants tomorrow when they face the Bengals in Cincinnati. This cannot be viewed as a youth movement to get a glimpse of players for next season. This is all about survival for this season.
“It’s trying to compete and play right now,” Tom Coughlin said. “If you look at our depth, these guys have to play right now. They’re the guys, they’re the players and they have to play.”
Injuries have ravaged the roster and continue to do so. If left tackle Luke Petitgout cannot not overcome the back spasms that kept him out of Thursday’s practice, rookie Jason Hilliard, recently promoted from the practice squad, could see his first NFL action.
First-year defensive linemen such as Raheem Orr and Damane Duckett might be needed. Curry Burns might see time at safety in place of Terry Cousin. It’s all hands on deck for the struggling, depleted Giants.
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The Giants did not practice yesterday, but did have a walk-through, in which Petitgout was able to participate. Petitgout is listed as questionable . . . Players were excused earlier than normal, around noon, for Christmas Eve . . . DT Kenderick Allen (hamstring) is out.
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Pencil in CB Curtis Deloatch as someone the Giants are interested in for next season. The rookie from North Carolina A&T made the team in the summer as an undrafted free agent and has played safety in the dime package. He might get more work in the last two games.
“The kid can run, there’s no doubt about it,” Coughlin said. “He covers a lot of ground with the ball in the air. We’ve used him from time to time back there in our nickel and dime packages, and he certainly would warrant a little more work back there.”
The Giants are intrigued with Deloatch because he’s big (6-2, 217) and has speed.
“I look at it as an opportunity,” Deloatch said. “I believe the coaches believe in me and I’m proud they believe in me.”