NY Giants second-round pick Xavier McKinney is expected to be activated Saturday and play Sunday vs. Bengals, sources confirm to GMenHQ
Help is on the way for the NY Giants defense.
NY Giants second-round pick Xavier McKinney, sidelined since fracturing his foot back in August is expected to be activated at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon and make his debut Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, an individual with knowledge of the team’s plans confirms to GMenHQ.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan was first to report that McKinney is expected to be activated:
McKinney will likely be eased into the lineup in regards to playing time. Probably only be used in specific packages because his first padded practice since the summer was Wednesday. DC Pat Graham admitted this week they “can’t put too much on him.” #Giants https://t.co/qsvcOeHyJZ
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) November 28, 2020
McKinney, chosen by the Giants with the No. 37 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, is expected to contribute at both safety and slot cornerback, giving the secondary a possibly significant boost.
The Alabama product’s versatility has the chance to be an asset, particularly after he had the perspective of watching and learning through the Giants’ first ten games of the season.
“I’m really an instinctive guy,” McKinney told reporters Friday. “I try to make as many plays as I can for the defense and for the team when I can and wherever I can. It can be a little different when you come back from being off for so long, so it definitely does help to be out there, to get going, that way you get used to it and acclimated to it.”
The Giants take on the Bengals on Sunday at 1p.m.
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.