10 things to watch in Giants vs. Saints

Linebacker Bobby Okereke has stepped up his game over the last month and a half. After not topping eight total tackles in any of the first seven games of the season, the veteran linebacker has recorded no fewer than nine tackles in any of the last five games, with 52 tackles total during that span. In last week’s game against the Cowboys, Okereke registered nine tackles (five solo), including two tackles for loss, along with a pass defensed. However, he appeared to pick up a back injury that has forced him to miss the first two practices of the week.

“I think he’s been good,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen told the media Thursday about the linebacker. “He’s been solid for us. Leader. Runs the show for us. Gets guys lined up. Makes plays when they’re there for us. He’s done a good job lately here attacking the football. I think he’s got three forced fumbles recently and the one last week was inches away, on the goal line, from being a forced fumble. So, he’s taking advantage of opportunities to get his hands on the football and use his length. We’ll see where he’s at here these next couple days.”

Okereke is tied with Tyler Nubin for the most tackles on the team, but trailing not too far behind the two is fellow inside linebacker Micah McFadden. The third-year linebacker has 80 tackles on the season (42 solo) to go with two sacks, three tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and three passes defensed. While he hasn’t seen as much playing time as McFadden, linebacker Darius Muasau has also flashed at times during his rookie campaign. If the Giants need to pass the green dot to one of these two young linebackers on Sunday due to Okereke’s injury, Bowen is confident that both can handle the added responsibility.

“If Bobby can’t go, I feel comfortable with both of them,” the defensive coordinator said about Muasau and McFadden. “They both have had to be able to do it. They both battled injuries throughout the year. So, they’ve always been kind of the next guy, whether it was Darius out and Micah was the next guy that would have to take that role. Or Darius has been out throughout the season and Micah would have to take that role. So, I feel comfortable with both those guys.”

A lot has been made about the contributions the Giants have received from their rookie class this season. Heading into Week 14, wide receiver Malik Nabers finds himself among the league leaders in several receiving categories, despite missing two games due to a concussion. Meanwhile, running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. ranks second among rookies in rushing yards, while safety Tyler Nubin has nine more total tackles than any other rookie. The Giants have also received some strong play from cornerback Dru Phillips and tight end Theo Johnson.

Throughout the entire season, the Giants have been at or near the top of the list in terms of snaps played by rookies. While the five first-year players mentioned above are all still developing, their head coach has been very encouraged by their growth during their first season in the NFL.

“All five of those guys have contributed in a positive way,” Daboll told the media. “They’re young players. We have a young team. I think they’re improving in a lot of areas. Nubin’s played a lot of football, had a lot of tackles. Dru been productive in some of the things. Obviously, Malik’s been productive. Theo was coming on and Tracy’s done a nice job. All things we still need to work on, but good young class.”

Speaking of Tracy, through his first 12 games, the rookie back is averaging an impressive 5.0 yards per carry, taking 125 rush attempts for 619 yards and four touchdowns while adding 24 receptions for 178 yards. However, it hasn’t all been positive for the young back. In Weeks 10 and 12, Tracy fumbled the ball a total of three times, one of which directly led to the Panthers’ game-winning field goal in overtime. This led to Devin Singletary receiving the start against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, although Tracy wound up still being on the field for 73 percent of the team’s offensive snaps.

With only five games left on the season, Kafka said he wants to see the rookie running back continue to develop as he wraps up his first season.

“Keep on growing, keep on learning,” Kafka said about Tracy. “Every single opportunity is another day for growth. I think for him specifically, it’s just the little, small details. As you become a pro and as you play longer in this league, those details start to add up, and now you can bank some more experiences for yourself. I think for him, he’s doing a lot of learning, a lot of growing, and he’ll continue to get better. I know (Running Backs) Coach (Joel) Thomas does a great job with him and really reeling him in and bringing him back to the basics and detailing up all his fundamentals.”

Tracy is facing a positive matchup this weekend. The Saints come into this game ranking 26^th in rushing yards allowed and 31^st in yards per attempt allowed, while their 15 rushing touchdowns surrendered are tied for the seventh-most in the league.

Wide receiver Darius Slayton has been selected as the Giants’ 2024 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee.

Presented by Nationwide, the NFL Man of the Year Award is named for former Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who died in 1999. The award recognizes an NFL player for outstanding community service activities off the field as well as excellence on the field.

Each of the 32 teams has a Man of the Year who is eligible to win the league award. Last year, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward won the award. In 2016, Giants quarterback Eli Manning was named a co-winner – with Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald – of the Man of the Year Award. Manning is the only Giants player to receive the award in its 54-year history.

Saquon Barkley was the Giants’ nominee each of the previous two seasons.

“It’s hard to even put into words,” Slayton said of his reaction to learning he was the nominee. “It’s not something that I saw coming at all. Even as a kid, you see all these things the players do, and you never know. (Now retired tackle) Andrew Whitworth won (in 2021) and I remember he got up there and was telling a story about one of his last years in the league. He said a guy came up to him and (said), ‘I was one of those kids at the Boys and Girls Club and I made it big.’ To me, that’s the ultimate. There’s not really much you could do in your career, or anything, that would top that, having someone come up and say, ‘You inspired me and here I am.’ Even if it wasn’t the NFL, that would be the biggest accomplishment in the world.

“I think the award itself speaks to that. That’s why I think it’s a tremendous honor to be a part of it. I’m very grateful and humbled that I was selected.”