Players to Watch in Week 6 matchup vs. Bengals

With Devin Singletary sidelined last week due to a groin injury, Tyrone Tracy Jr. got his first expanded workload of his young NFL career. And the rookie running back certainly delivered. Tracy gained 129 yards on just 18 carries for an average of 7.2 yards per carry. According to NGS, Tracy generated a +47 rush yards over expected on Sunday, the most by a Giants running back since Week 11 of last season, aided by his four runs of 10+ yards.

“I would say the butterflies is something that is always going to happen on game day,” Tracy said after his breakout game. “I prepare the right way; I have people around me that help me prepare, help me throughout the week, help me with film study, knowing the backers, knowing the D-line. For me personally, when you get out there after that first snap, the butterflies need to go away. You have to stay focused, understand the game plan, and rely on your fundamentals and technique.”

It remains to be seen if Singletary, who was a limited participant at practice on Wednesday and Thursday, will return for the Week 6 matchup on Sunday Night Football. But whether or not the veteran is on the field against the Bengals, Tracy likely earned himself a role in the offense. The Bengals enter this week’s game ranked 30^th in the league with an average of 151.4 rushing yards allowed per game, as four of their five opponents have recorded 149 yards or more on the ground.

“I don’t think he surprised me,” assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said Thursday about Tracy’s performance. “He’s been putting in great work all through camp, since he’s gotten here really. He puts really good intent into the meeting rooms and on the practice field he tries to be as detailed as can be. And (Running Backs) Coach (Joel) Thomas has done a nice job of getting him up to speed. So, no, there’s no surprise there. He’s a good player and it’s a guy that we expect him to do what he does.”

With Nabers sidelined for last week’s game, the offense needed other players to step up. Enter Theo Johnson. The rookie tight end caught just three passes for 37 yards across his first four games. But against the Seahawks, the 6-foot-4 Johnson caught all five of his targets for 48 yards. Twenty-eight of those yards came after the catch, which ranked as the second-most on the team in Week 5.

“He brings, obviously, a big body presence in the middle of the field and even out wide, getting him matched up on some smaller defenders,” Jones said Wednesday about the rookie tight end. “We have a lot of confidence in him. I know there was something made about him not having as many opportunities early on, but we have a ton of confidence in him, and you saw on Sunday what he can do and his physicality, his size and strength in the middle of the field.”

“Theo is a young player and he’s continuing to grow each and every day,” Kafka added on Thursday. “You see it in the meeting rooms. He’s getting more comfortable with it. You see it on the practice field. I think the more opportunities that come his way, he’s going to make those plays. That’s really for any young player. You’re getting into what the NFL game is like. You’re getting more comfortable and more confident and Theo is doing that.”

The Bengals struggled to contain the Ravens’ tight ends last week. Mark Andrews registered four receptions for 55 yards, Isaiah Likely caught two touchdown passes, and even Charlie Kolar, the team’s No. 3 tight end, got into the action with three catches for 64 yards and a score.