NY Giants’ Xavier McKinney to make debut, Graham Gano returns | inactives vs. Bengals

NY Giants rookie safety Xavier McKinney is officially active for Sunday’s NFL Week 12 game against the Cincinnati Bengals

NY Giants rookie safety Xavier McKinney is active for his first career NFL game, against the Cincinnati Bengals, and kicker Graham Gano will also be available for Sunday’s pivotal game with massive NFC East implications.

McKinney was activated from injured reserve Saturday, after being sidelined for the first 10 games due to a fractured foot suffered back in August and could make his debut seeing snaps at safety or slot cornerback.

Meanwhile, Gano returns from the COVID-19/reserve list, after testing positive shortly after the Giants’ Week 10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Unlike Gano, tight end Kaden Smith, rookie offensive tackle Matt Peart, and wide receiver Dante Pettis also tested positive for COVID-19 and remain on the COVID-19/reserve list.

The Giants enter Week 13 reasonably healthy for what could be a stretch run to the postseason.

Here are the Giants’ inactives for Sunday’s game:

K – Ryan Santoso

ILB – T.J. Brunson

DB – Montre Hartage

OL – Kyle Murphy

DE – R.J. McIntosh

LB – Trent Harris

 Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.