Presser Points: Takeaways from Coach Brian Daboll

📰 Linebacker Micah McFadden (neck), center John Michael Schmitz (ankle), right tackle Evan Neal (rib/hip), and defensive lineman Armon Watts (knee) will not practice to start the week.

📰 Watts, who was carted off with a knee injury during Sunday’s home victory over the Colts, underwent surgery.

📰 Around the same time Daboll spoke in East Rutherford, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni announced in Philadelphia that they are going to “rest some guys” with the team locked into the No. 2 seed. That list will “probably” include former Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who is 101 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record.

“Obviously, it’s a very special record that’s been standing for a long time by a great player,” Sirianni said, according to the Eagles’ official website. “It’s a team record that everybody’s involved in. You take and weigh all of those things, but at the end of the day, you just try to do what’s best for the team.”

📰 No matter what the Eagles ultimately decide, Daboll said the Giants will “just prepare like we normally do, in meetings and practice, and get ready to play our game.”

📰 Daboll was asked about how his relationship with general manager Joe Schoen has evolved in their three seasons with the Giants. “It’s a good working relationship, good communication, talk every day about a variety of things, roster, personnel, everything.”

📰 Daboll has “got a lot of appreciation and respect for” Barkley

📰 Daboll doesn’t think a player has to be a “10-year veteran to be a leader.” Rookies like Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Malik Nabers have “done a great job of answering the bell and doing the things that they need to do each week” as the Giants have lost leaders along the way this season. Daboll also pointed out veterans like running back Devin Singletary, outside linebacker Brian Burns, offensive lineman Greg Van Roten, kicker Graham Gano, and long snapper Casey Kreiter.

📰 Last week, the Giants used their ninth starting offensive line combination of the season. That included moving undrafted rookie Jake Kubas to right guard after he played on the left side the week before. “Very, very tough, physically and mentally. He’s got things that we look for in our offensive linemen. He’s done a great job of sitting in that room with guys like (Greg Van Roten) GVR around him, (guard Jon) Runyan (Jr.) when he was there, (Andrew Thomas) AT, even (John Michael Schmitz Jr.) JMS to an extent, (tackle Jermaine) Eluemunor. They’ve done a nice job with him. He listens, very smart. It’s not too big for him, even though it’s a lower level. He’s a good young player to work with. He’s done a nice job.”

📰 On what the Giants saw when they signed Ihmir Smith-Marsette, who was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after his 100-yard kickoff return touchdown: “He’s done a nice job. He had the one against the Saints that got called back. It was a punt return. Obviously, he had this one. He made some other good ones in Dallas. He’s done a nice job of handling the ball. Good teammate. He’s got a great personality about him. Happy we have him.”