DeAndre Baker returns to practice for Giants

Cornerback DeAndre Baker, who has missed a few days and did not play vs. the Chicago Bears on Friday because of a sprained left knee, returned to practice on Monday for the New York Giants.

The Giants traded up to No. 30 in the first round, giving up their 37th overall pick and two other selections to draft the former Georgia cornerback. He is expected to start opposite Janoris Jenkins.

Baker did individual drills on Monday, but did not participate in team periods.

“He’s been doing individual (drills),” coach Pat Shurmur said. “We’re going to move him back in there as quickly as we can. So yeah, it’s good to have him back out there.”

More takeaways from Shurmur

On fullback Elijhaa Penny ...

“If you ask him, he’ll tell you that he’s a converted halfback. Just ask him, he’ll tell you. He’s fond of that. He’s a fullback. But the one thing about him is that if we have a dire situation, he can go in there and run the football. Just ask him, he’ll tell you,” Shurmur said. “I’m very fond of him because he’s one of the people in this building that, in my opinion, has never had a bad day. He’s smiling. He may have had a bad play or a bad meal, but he’s never had a bad day. He’s a little bit of an inspiration to me because he just keeps going. He loves the game and he keeps playing. He’s done some good stuff for us.”

If you were wondering whether or not Penny was making the 53-man roster, that gives you a pretty good hint.

On the value of first-team reps for Corey Ballentine and Antonio Hamilton ...

“I think very valuable. Again, we get to evaluate them in game settings. They’re finding a way to make plays, getting around the ball, becoming more and more comfortable within the scheme. We can see, I don’t know if it’s obvious with the naked eye, that when we play a certain defense Week 1, we play that same defense Week 2. Even though there may not be any action his way, you can see his movements are a little bit more fluid, he’s a little closer to where he needs to be, he’s in position to make a play if it comes that way. That’s the benefit of young players playing, is we get to see them do that. There are times when there is no action, but you still need to be in the right spot. You see some of these guys that are getting more reps than they maybe would have if the guys in front of them were healthy making progress in those ways.”

On what he likes about backup offensive lineman Chad Slade ...

“I think he’s been very competitive and very multiple. He’s played stretches at right tackle and left tackle, back and forth. In the event he makes our team and he’s not a starter, that’s going to be an important component to his game, being able to be multiple. He competes and he’s out there. When he’s out there and he’s competing and he’s doing a lot more good things than bad things, then we start to depend on him. That’s when we start to like a guy, and that’s certainly where we’re at with him.”