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Cornerback Eli Apple is a healthy scratch for the New York Giants on Thursday night as they face the Washington Redskins.
Apple, the team’s 2016 first-round pick, was also a healthy scratch Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Apple’s mom, Annie, had brain surgery last week and he spent most of the week with her.
This is more difficult to explain. Apple was expected to practice with the team this week. His mom does not appear to be happy about Apple being inactive, posting a tweet that appears to indicate she may believe her son is being scapegoated by the 2-8 Giants.
Eli Apple is a professional and loves playing football since age 11. Let’s get the narrative right. Entire team including coaches have struggled and their mamas didn’t have brain surgery. Let’s not try and isolate one guy. Win as a team. Lose as a team https://t.co/uEntWTee06
— Annie Apple (@SurvivinAmerica) November 24, 2017
Reporters at FedEx Field are saying that the Giants are calling Apple being inactive a coach’s decision that Ben McAdoo will address after the game.
Apple has had a couple of instances this season where his attitude was questioned, and he was benched at the beginning of a Week 5 game against the Los Angeles Chargers for what were termed disciplinary reasons.
McAdoo said after the Giants lost, 20-10, Sunday night that the move was not disciplinary. He said he did not feel comfortable playing Apple since the Giants had no full practices during the week.