Giants news, 11/10: Expectations for R.J. McIntosh, Sean Chandler

Good morning, New York Giants fans! Here are some notes to get your weekend started.

Tempering expectations for R.J. McIntosh

The Giants activated defensive lineman R.J. McIntosh, the team’s fifth-round pick, this week after he had spent the entire season on the non-football illness list. Defensive coordinator James Bettcher on Friday reminded everyone just how far behind McIntosh, who did not practice at all through the spring, summer or first six weeks of the season, is.

“We realize that this is like the second week of OTA worth of practices for him and we know that. There’s going to [be] fundamentals and techniques and some of those things everyday that we’re just going to keep hitting him with and keep hitting him with and the thing that I’ve been the most encouraged with him about is just his work mentality,” Bettcher said. “He’s been studying film, he’s been great with what Gary’s (Emanuel) been asking him to do and you could see some of the things that we’re really trying to work on in individual carry over and he’s very aware of the things that he needs to continue to work.”

Sean Chandler ready for more

Undrafted rookie free agent defensive back Sean Chandler played 18 snaps against the Washington Redskins, his first significant action of the season. His role could expand during the second half of the year.

“He’s practicing at a point where he’s communicating, he’s starting to really be in rhythm at the backend both as a safety, as a nickel where we’ve played him at times, as a guy that’s blitzed off the edge a few times for us and done some different things,” Bettcher said. “We’ll be excited to see how he plays along with some of the other young guys down the stretch.”

Spinning the returner wheel

Kaelin Clay. Stacy Coley. Odell Beckham Jr. Cody Latimer. Jawill Davis. Quadree Henderson. The Giants have gone through a number of kickoff and punt returners this season. With Henderson, the latest and perhaps most effective, having been waived then re-signed to the practice squad this week it’s uncertain who the returner will be Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers.

“Next guy up, whoever that guy is. Next guy up,” special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey said. “Whoever’s back there, we’re going to coach them up and keep it rolling.”

McGaughey, though, couldn’t hide the idea that he’d like that guy to be Henderson. The Giants would have to make another roster move to get Henderson back on the 53-man roster.

“I like what he was doing, definitely. Obviously when you get a chance to make an explosive play and he makes one, makes a couple, you always like that. That’s something that he has, that’s what he is, he’s shown that in college and we look forward to getting him back,” McGaughey said.

Kyle Lauletta has to regain trust

Kyle Lauletta seemed sincere earlier in the week when he issued his public apology for hia arrest stemming from a traffic incident. Offensive coordinator Mike Shula said Friday that the rookie quarterback has to work to re-establish trust.

“He messed up and he’s got to prove that he’s going to do the right things each and every day, going to work that way, and obviously as we all know at that position, you’re held to a higher standard and that’s what you sign on for, that’s what he’s got in his mind moving forward,” Shula said.

Injuries? What injuries?

The three players on the Giants’ injury report all practiced fully Friday, including rookie wide receiver Jawill Davis, who had been in the NFL concussion protocol and was limited to non-contact work yesterday. The others were linebacker Alec Ogletree (hamstring) and tackle Chad Wheeler (ankle).