The Giants are getting back one of their best players and leaders, just in time for their win-and-in game Sunday against the Colts at MetLife Stadium.
Safety Xavier McKinney, who missed the past seven games with a hand injury, was added to the active roster Saturday from the non-football injury list. That means he will be uniform and on the field Sunday, a huge lift to a defensive backfield that has often struggled without his sideline-to-sideline coverage ability.
The move is a surprise. The Giants started the clock on McKinney this week when he began practicing with the team. He looked fine running — there was never anything wrong with his lower body — and he wore a splint on his left hand as protection as he went through drills to test the strength and flexibility in the hand. But as late as Friday, head coach Brian Daboll cautioned that he expected McKinney would not make it back in time for this game.
“Obviously, hasn’t played a game in a while,’’ Daboll said. “I’d probably say probably not this week, but he looked good up there.”
After McKinney lobbied to play, the Giants’ medical staff, front office and coaching staff reconsidered. Now, McKinney will get his wish.
During the bye after the Week 8 game at Seattle, McKinney went on a Mexican vacation at Cabo San Lucas. He fractured three fingers on his left hand in an ATV accident and was immediately placed on the non-football injury list. With McKinney in the lineup, the Giants were 6-2. They have gone 2-4-1 without him. Jason Pinnock filled in and played well at times, but McKinney is a top player, a team captain and a building block on defense.
McKinney is unlikely to receive a full load in his first game back — he usually plays every snap on defense — but having him for 20-30 snaps should make a difference.