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Giants rookie starting right tackle Evan Neal was added to Thursday’s injury report as limited with an ankle injury.
This is noteworthy because the No. 7 overall pick was up and down in the team’s first meeting with the Vikings. Coach Brian Daboll played Neal 32 snaps in the season finale at Philadelphia when he rested most starters.
And an ankle injury could render Neal even more vulnerable to Vikings pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith in Sunday’s Wild Card game at Minnesota.
It’s fair to wonder if Daboll would go to backup tackle Tyre Phillips at some point if that helped the offense protect Daniel Jones.
Phillips, a 2020 Baltimore Ravens third-round pick, has made five starts this season and played in 12 games. Most notably, he got the Week 18 start at left tackle against the Eagles and played all 63 offensive snaps.
Daboll said of playing Neal in Philly: “We thought it would be good for him to get a good half of work in. I think he’s improved since he’s been here. I have a lot of confidence in Evan, as I do with all the other guys on the line.”
Other changes to Thursday’s report included WR Marcus Johnson (knee) being added as limited and C Jon Feliciano (back) being upgraded to full.
CB Adoree Jackson (knee), OLB Azeez Ojulari (ankle), S Jason Pinnock (shoulder) and DL Leonard Williams (neck) remained limited, while S Xavier McKinney (fingers) remained full.
Encouragingly, Pinnock practiced in a normal jersey, removing the red non-contact jersey he had worn at practice Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Vikings received good news Thursday with C Garrett Bradbury (back) being upgraded from limited to full participation. They’ll need their starting center against Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. LB Brian Asamoah (knee) also was upgraded to full. CB Cam Dantzler (ankle/personal matter) didn’t participate. S Harrison Smith (knee) was limited. And DL James Lynch (shoulder) was full.
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