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Giants rule 4 players out; Andrew Thomas 'sore' 

JABRILL-PEPPERS

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants announced that a quartet of players will not play due to injuries Sunday in Dallas against the NFC East-leading Cowboys.

Wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton, who each have hamstring injuries, and offensive lineman Ben Bredeson (hand) will all miss their second consecutive game. Safety Jabrill Peppers will sit out for the first time this year with a hamstring injury.

Bredeson was limited in practice and the other three players did not practice today.

Prior to the workout, coach Joe Judge was asked about the receivers and Peppers.

"I'd say all three guys did enough things promising enough yesterday that we're going to give them another opportunity to come out here today and work around and see where we can fit them in," Judge said. "But they've all had enough progress that we owe them at least one more day to try and get out there.

The team's other wideouts stepped up with productive games when Shepard and Slayton were inactive in last week's 27-21 overtime victory in New Orleans. Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney and John Ross combined for 15 catches for 271 yards and Ross scored the team's first touchdown on a 52-yard pass from Daniel Jones.

Peppers missed one game in the 2020 season – Oct. 4 at the Rams - with an ankle injury. He played but did not start the following week in Dallas and had since started 15 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak on the team behind fellow safety Logan Ryan's 19 in a row.

This season, Peppers has 16 tackles (10 solo), including one stop for loss, two quarterback hits and one pass defensed. He has also been the team's primary punt returner with five runbacks for a 9.2-yard average. Last week in New Orleans, C.J. Board returned a punt 26 yards. Special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey also mentioned Toney as a potential punt returner. At the University of Florida, Toney averaged 11.3 yards on 13 career returns.

View rare photos from the historic rivalry between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.

*The only other player on the final injury report is left tackle Andrew Thomas, who is questionable with a foot injury. Thomas was limited in practice.

"He went through practice with us yesterday," Judge said. "I think everyone at this point in the season is dealing with some kind of nick or bump. We'll see where he is coming out of today. But yeah, he was practicing with us yesterday."

Thomas was asked about his foot when he spoke to the media today.

"Sore, but I'm doing everything the trainers are asking me to do," he said. "Taking care of it, doing a lot of treatment, trying to get it ready."

Asked if he thought he could "battle through" it, Thomas said, "Right now, just focusing on everyday doing what the trainers ask me. We'll see how it feels on Sunday, but right now just trying to treat it. … We'll see what happens on Sunday."

Thomas has started 14 consecutive games and 19 of the 20 games since the Giants selected him fourth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has not missed a game in his two seasons with the team.

Matt Peart is listed as the Giants' No. 2 tackle on either side. If Thomas is unable to play, a potential solution would be to move Nate Solder from right to left tackle and have Peart step in on the right side.

*Thomas has received acclaim for his play through the first four weeks, but it hasn't changed his outlook or lowkey demeanor.

"I try not to pay too much attention to it, whether it's good or bad," he said. "Just focusing on getting better every week. There were some things last week that I definitely have to clean up going into the next week, so that's what I'm focused on."

*Two key Cowboys offensive players – running back Ezekiel Elliott (knee) and wide receiver Amari Cooper (hamstring) – were again limited in practice and are listed as questionable for the game. Starting safety Donovan Wilson (groin) and backup defensive end Dorance Armstrong (ankle) are out.

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