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Presser Points: Andrew Thomas, John Michael Schmitz return to practice

The New York Giants (2-5) will look to build momentum heading into November with a "visit" from the New York Jets (3-3) this Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

The Giants broke their four-game losing streak in last week's 14-7 victory over the Commanders, while the Jets enjoyed their bye following back-to-back wins over the Broncos and Eagles. Brian Daboll met with the media early Wednesday afternoon on the patio at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center, where the head coached previewed the week ahead.

Here's what you need to know:

🔹 Quarterback Daniel Jones is the "same as he was last week" at this point. He won't take any team reps as he has yet to be cleared for contact. "He's feeling better, and when the doctors tell me he's cleared, then [he's] cleared." Jones has missed the last two games with a neck injury. He was limited in practice last week and was listed as questionable heading into Sunday.

🔹 Left tackle Andrew Thomas, on the other hand, returned to practice in a limited capacity this week. He has not played since Week 1, when he suffered a hamstring injury. The 2022 All-Pro selection has not practiced even in a limited capacity since the Thursday leading into Week 4.

🔹 Everybody is practicing in some capacity except running back Gary Brightwell, who left Sunday's game with a hamstring injury. Defensive lineman Leonard Williams had a veteran rest day.

🔹 Rookie center John Michael Schmitz, the team's second draft choice who has been sidelined since Week 4 with a shoulder injury, also returned to practice in a limited capacity. "Let him practice, and we'll see how it goes by the end of the week. All those guys that have been out for a while are getting better. This is the next step here, see how they do at practice."

🔹 Daboll liked the way the young cornerbacks stepped up without Adoree' Jackson (neck) last week. First-round pick Deonte Banks "has been improving" as everyone saw on Sunday with his first NFL interception. Tre Hawkins III "did a good job" and was "physical." Cor'Dale Flott is doing a good job inside. "Those guys have worked hard and competed out here in practice. I thought they did a good job."

🔹 What would it mean to get Thomas back? "It would be great. He's a really good left tackle." His presence would trickle down to everyone on the line, but they're "not going to rush him."

🔹 Rookie running back Eric Gray (calf) and tackle Matt Peart (shoulder) were placed on injured reserve this week. On what went into the decision for IR: "I'd say we discuss with the doctors, (General Manager) Joe (Schoen) and I discuss it, see where their injury is at, see how long we think it could be, could not be. There's a lot of conversations. Peart, we thought it would be a little bit of time. (running back Eric) Gray, same thing. Some guys you hold out hope that maybe it's a little bit, maybe it's not. Every injury is different, as you know."

🔹 Gray was the primary return specialist on both kickoffs and punts. On Monday, the team signed wide receiver Gunner Olszewski, whose resume includes a first-team All-Pro selection as a punt returner, to their practice squad. Olszewski was released Saturday by the Pittsburgh Steelers after he signed with the team as a free agent in 2022. Prior to that, he spent the first three years of his career in New England, where he became a standout return specialist. His 17.3 yards per punt return in 2020 not only led the NFL, but it was the highest return average in Patriots history and the second-highest in the NFL since 1970.

🔹 Olszewski, Darius Slayton, Jackson, and Sterling Shepard will get reps and be in the mix at returner.

🔹 Protecting the football will be a high priority against an opportunistic Jets defense. "They're excellent at it. They had three on (Chiefs quarterback Patrick) Mahomes, two counted, three on (Bills quarterback) Josh (Allen), three on (Eagles quarterback) Jalen (Hurts), I think. Played Philadelphia, Kansas City, Buffalo, beat Buffalo and beat Philadelphia. I just think (Jets Head) Coach (Robert) Saleh does a great job. His defenses are always well coached. Competed against him when he was in San Francisco and I was in Buffalo. I think the world of him as a guy. He's got a defense that plays with high energy, specific type of guy that plays extremely hard. They rotate their front four like hockey shifts. They've got two really good corners. I'd say they kind of do what they do on early downs, and they do it very, very well and then they give you some issues schematically in some passing situations."

🔹 On Jets running back Breece Hall: "He's a big back that runs really fast. If he gets out in the open, he can make a guy miss, he can slash and one-cut. A couple runs he had backed up in the first game of the year, then he had a long one against Kansas City, 43-yarder. You've got to put a lot of hats to the ball on him. He's a big back, but he's fast, too, and he can take it a long way. Good player."

View rare photos from the local rivalry between the Giants and Jets.

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