Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr. likely out for Giants preseason opener vs. Steelers
New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo plans to treat this year’s preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers just like last year’s first preseason game.
This means quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. probably will not see any action. It also means the starting offensive and defense will play most of the first quarter depending on the number of the snaps.
“There is a plan,” McAdoo said. “We are going to treat it very similarly to the way we treated (the first preseason game) last year.”
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Manning and Beckham did not play in last year’s preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins.
McAdoo did not say which of his backup quarterbacks would start versus the Steelers. Josh Johnson is listed as the No. 2 quarterback on the unofficial depth chart. He has been alternating with Geno Smith between the second and third teams. Rookie Davis Webb may also see action against the Steelers despite taking only a few snaps during live drills.
“I feel ready to go, studied my butt off, gotten every rep this entire camp. I might not be in there, but mentally I’ve been pretty into every single rep,” Webb said. “So, I haven’t missed one. I feel good about it, and just looking forward to playing again. It’s been a while.”
It has definitely been a while for Smith. He hasn’t played since tearing his ACL in Week 7 last season as a member of the New York Jets. Smith is battling Johnson for the position of Manning’s backup.
“It’s going to be fun. I’m excited,” Smith said. “Looking forward to it, you know, being my first game since last October. So, it’ll be fun. We’re going to go out there and cut it loose, you know, play like I know how and just give it everything I got.”
It’s also possible some key defensive players (Damon Harrison, Jason Pierre-Paul) could be held out of Friday’s game as well.
Players who were limited in practice Wednesday or didn’t practice at all won’t play against the Steelers. This includes running back Shaun Draughn (ankle), linebacker Mark Herzlich (stinger), wide receiver Tavarres King (ankle), safety Ryan Murphy (lower body), wide receiver Sterling Shepard (ankle), wide receiver Kevin Snead (lower body), linebacker J.T. Thomas (knee), defensive tackle Robert Thomas (soreness), and cornerback Mykkele Thompson (quad).
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