Janoris Jenkins didn’t make a birthday wish to stay with the Giants.
He didn’t have to.
In his first comments since the NFL trade deadline passed Tuesday without the Giants shipping him elsewhere, Jenkins told The Post he knew more about his future than he initially let on.
“I knew what was going on,” Jenkins said. “I had a conversation with somebody. They had already let me know. That’s why I wasn’t even worried about it too much.”
Jenkins seemed to be punching his ticket out of town last week when he told the Giants not to “beat around the bush” and let trade rumors continue to circulate for the second straight season.
After last Sunday’s game, when he had his fourth interception of the season, Jenkins said he planned to celebrate his 31st birthday Tuesday. As for the Giants? “I don’t give a f— what they do,” he said.
By then, however, Jenkins already had met with coach Pat Shurmur for an upfront conversation to reinforce how valued he is on the team, a source told The Post. Giants general manager Dave Gettleman has been criticized for not communicating directly with players potentially on the move, though it is not common practice to loop in players on trade talks except under special circumstances.
Shurmur has called Jenkins one of his “favorite” players in the past because of the competitive edge he brings to practice. They had a one-on-one chat after Jenkins criticized the Giants’ pass rush earlier this year.
“I just let you all [media] kept the story going,” Jenkins said. “I was in the loop. You always respect when somebody puts you up and lets you know what’s going on.”
Jenkins has one year remaining on his contract but no guaranteed money beyond his 2019 salary, which usually adds up to a contending team renting a veteran from a non-contender. Multiple reports cited the Giants as actively shopping Jenkins before the deadline.
Is he happy to stay put?
“Of course I’m happy I’m here,” Jenkins said. “I get to play football and be with be with the guys I grind with. You don’t have to say it all the time. Players know how you feel.”
Jenkins usually is reluctant to say so, taking a “business is business” approach. He previously expressed a sense of urgency about being on a winning team as his career winds down.
His attitude has rubbed Giants fans the wrong way, if not his teammates.
“Who are the fans?” Jenkins said. “They will tell me I’m great today and I’m playing [poorly] tomorrow. The only thing I worry about is what’s going on in the locker room, baby.”
Outside linebacker Kareem Martin (knee) and wide receiver Russell Shepard (foot) were running off to the side during practice viewing windows this week.
Both were placed on injured reserve — Martin after Week 1, Shepard after Week 3 — but only one is eligible to return this season because cornerback Sam Beal is the other player designated to return under the NFL cap of two per team. A player must miss at least eight weeks on IR.
The Giants must decide whether to activate Beal or shut him down from practicing by Wednesday. But Beal hoped they would act sooner so he could play Monday against the Cowboys.
“There’s a possibility,” Shurmur said. “More likely next week.”
Sterling Shepard is set to return against the Cowboys after a three-game absence due to his second concussion of the season. He was cleared by an independent neurologist.
Shepard has talked his way back into both games during which he suffered a concussion, which is not supposed to happen under NFL protocol. He will be more mindful of his safety, he said.
“It’s scary getting two concussions,” Shepard said. “I’ll definitely be honest on how I’m feeling and be honest with the trainers.”
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