Giants at Seahawks: Colt McCoy takes first-team practice reps

Colt McCoy received “the majority” of first-team practice reps at quarterback for the New York Giants on Wednesday as they prepared for the possibility of facing the Seattle Seahawks without starting quarterback Daniel Jones.

Jones left Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a hamstring injury. Coach Joe Judge said the Giants were going to “see what he’s able to do” during Wednesday’s practice before making any plans for the remainder of the week. Before practice, Judge sounded as though he intended to be careful with Jones.

“Daniel is a guy that is very competitive. He has a tremendous work ethic and he’s a very tough guy,” Judge said. “You have to kind of pull a lot of these guys back because they’re coming in wired with the mindset that they’re getting ready for a game. As coaches, it’s our responsibility sometimes to protect players from themselves.”

Jones did not practice on Wednesday.

“I certainly want to play and I want to be out there and doing everything I can to get out there,” Jones said. “Where that puts me or how I recover depends on what I do day to day and that’s what my focus is, on what I’m doing and focusing on healing up.”

Asked if he could have played Wednesday if the Giants had a game, Jones said “I’m not sure.”

“Luckily, there’s not a game today and to think of a hypothetical here, I’m sure we all use the week to prepare our bodies to play on Sundays. That’s part of the schedule and the way it works for all of us, so I’m not sure,” Jones said. “My goal is to continue to improve throughout the week.”

The 4-7 Giants are 10-point underdogs against the 8-3 Seahawks.

“I think when you want to compete, you want to compete against the best. We’re going to get an opportunity this week to go against one of the best teams in the league,’ Judge said.

The Giants went into Wednesday’s practice planning for McCoy and practice squad quarterback Clayton Thorson, who has never thrown an NFL pass, to get all the reps.

“I have a lot of confidence in Colt. The way this guy comes to work every day and prepares. Every chance he gets to get on the field and compete. I’ve been able to coach against this guy and now he is with us right now,” Judge said. “You can see how competitive this guy is. He’s got a lot of instincts, a lot of savvy. He draws from his experience. He’s a tough dude, he’s mentally tough, he’s physically tough.

“He’s a guy that’s very well respected on this team, in the locker room and on the field. The guys really like Colt, they rally around him just like they do Daniel. He’s a guy that puts a lot of confidence in the players in the huddle.”

McCoy said he “felt a little bit rusty” in his first game action on Sunday against the Bengals. If he has to start Sunday, McCoy will be ready.

“I just need to go out there execute and be myself. Daniel has played at a really high level the last three weeks. I think that’s why it’s so frustrating for him. You could see the growth that he’s made. He’s playing at a really high level,” mcCoy said. “I think for me, it’s communication. Working with wideouts, working with running backs. We’re doing a lot of stuff on the line. Who knows what we’ll do this week? Just being prepared, that’s the name of the game.

“That’s why the Giants brought me here. I think that’s the expectation. If your number is called, whether it’s quarterback, receiver, on the other side of the ball on defense, when you have to step up, you have to step up. I just have to be mentally prepared for whatever happens.”

Injury report

Did not practice

QB Daniel Jones (hamstring)

Limited

DB Nate Ebner (knee)
LB David Mayo (knee)
WR Sterling Shepard (toe/shoulder)
WR Darius Slayton (shoulder/foot)