The Giants have two of the league’s most dynamic offensive playmakers and insist they are willing to use Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley as returners.
But they’re still giving Kaelin Clay a second chance.
Though the recently signed punt returner cost the Giants a chance at a game-winning drive by fumbling a punt in the final minute of the season-opening loss to the Jaguars, special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey said Clay will again field punts Sunday night against the Cowboys.
“Like any other player, you’re not just gonna give him one chance and throw him away,” McGaughey said Thursday. “There’s a lot of things that happened in the course of the game that we all want to get back, but Kaelin’s a pro. This is his third year doing it, and he’s made a lot of plays in this league, and I expect him to do that moving forward.”
Clay has returned two punts for touchdowns in his career.
“He’s made plays in the league, and we feel like he’s a bona fide punt returner,” head coach Pat Shurmur said. “Everyone’s gotta clean up their mistakes, and we just move forward.”
Sterling Shepard was limited in Wednesday’s practice because of back spasms, but the wide receiver said he is “fine” and in no jeopardy of missing Sunday’s game. … Shurmur said Olivier Vernon (ankle) is “making progress,” but the pass-rusher was limited to working on the side with trainers in the early part of Thursday’s practice.