Notebook: Malik Nabers dealing with hip flexor injury

Offensive tackle is another position that demands scrutiny because of the indefinite status of Eluemunor and Neal.

“Both will do a little bit more today,” Daboll said. “Can’t say they’ll be ready to play. Can’t say they won’t yet.”

The next men up would be Hubbard, who played every left tackle snap in Dallas, and Joshua Ezeudu. But Hubbard’s status is uncertain. Backup guard Aaron Stinnie could play tackle and Joshua Miles was elevated from the practice squad and played three special teams snaps in his 2024 debut in Dallas. Tyre Phillips and Marcellus Johnson are also tackles on the practice squad.

The situation at nose/defensive tackle is perhaps more nebulous. Lawrence, Nunez-Roches, and Davidson were the top three interior linemen. Only Davidson has a chance to play, and because he is doubtful, it is a small one.

Riley has played eight games in each of his first two seasons. Elijah Chatman has recorded 10 tackles and 1.0 sack while playing in all 12 games as an undrafted rookie. They are the presumptive starters, assuming Riley can play. Behind them is Cory Durden, who was signed this week off the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad. His regular-season experience consists of 44 defensive and 19 special teams snaps in four games with the 2023 Rams.

The Giants could also add Elijah Garica (five games with Denver in 2022-23) and Casey Rogers (no regular-season experience) off their practice squad.

“I’d say the practice squad guys on the defensive line are basically taking every rep and they’ll have to be ready,” Daboll said. “I’m not sure if (Davidson) is going to be ready to go or not going to be ready to go. So, guys like Garcia, Casey Rogers, obviously Durden, who we just signed. They’re getting a lot of reps these last couple days and they’re going to have to be ready to go.”

Defensive line coach Andre Patterson has been preparing for this possibility all season.

“I coach them all for that reason,” Patterson said. “Even the practice squad guys, they meet with me every Saturday morning and I watch all of the scout team reps with them. I coach them up just like I do on the practice reps on the other guys throughout the course of the week. They’re in my individual periods. I’ve been trying to prepare them for this moment since they made the team. It’s not like, ‘Oh, now I gotta coach these guys up in a week.’ They’ve gotten reps in everything that we do. They’ve been coached on every rep that they’ve taken for this reason.”

Less mystery exists at inside linebacker, where Micah McFadden is third on the team with 80 tackles and will be joined by rookie Darius Muasau, who has started two games this season. It’s uncertain who will wear the green dot on their helmet and be in communication with defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.

“Those other guys, if they get their opportunity, they’re prepared,” inside linebackers coach John Egorugwu said. “Whoever is available, we feel good.”

Several untested players will get a chance to show what they can do against the Saints.

“I think for guys that are getting opportunity that maybe haven’t had an opportunity, they’re excited about the opportunity for some of these young guys that haven’t played a lot of football just in the NFL in general,” Daboll said. “I think each person is focused on what they can do, practice how they need to practice, prepare how they need to prepare, so they can go out there and put their best stuff on tape each and every week.

“Whether it’s a guy like Casey Rogers, or Durden, who just got here, or some of the tackles that we’ve been repping in there. We wish we had Dexter and (tackle) Andrew Thomas and those guys, but we don’t. That’s the reality of the NFL. So, they’re looking forward to the opportunity, which will be a big challenge.”