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Notebook: Jason Pinnock ruled out; Dane Belton to start

JASON-PINNOCK

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Safety Jason Pinnock, who has the Giants' longest active starting streak, will not play in the season finale Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Pinnock injured his toe last week in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Prior to that game, he had missed just six plays the entire season.

Because he was one of the few regulars who started the 2022 season finale in Philadelphia, Pinnock's starting streak is at 17 games, including all 16 this season.

The three other players who have started every game this season – Kayvon Thibodeaux, Xavier McKinney and Bobby Okereke - will be tied for the longest streak.

Pinnock finishes his second Giants season fourth on the team with 85 tackles (59 solo). He is in a five-way tie for the team lead with two interceptions. Pinnock's 102-yard interception return touchdown in Miami on Oct. 8 was the Giants' longest play this season and tied Erich Barnes' franchise record, which had stood alone since 1961.

Pinnock also had 2.0 sacks, six tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, six passes defensed and two forced fumbles.

"He's played a variety of different roles in our defense, whether he's back in the deep part of the field or he's covering man-to-man, or if he's pressuring," coach Brian Daboll said. "He's done a nice job for us all year."

Second-year pro Dane Belton will start in his place. Belton intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble last week vs. the Rams when he stepped in for Pinnock.

View photos of the Giants on the practice field ahead of the Week 18 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

*Rookie cornerback Deonte Banks was limited in practice and is doubtful with a shoulder injury. Banks, the Giants' 2023 first-round draft choice, started the season's first 15 games before he was inactive last week. Nick McCloud started in his place.

*Center John Michael Schmitz, the Giants' second selection in the 2023 draft, is questionable with a shin injury. Schmitz was also limited in practice. He has started all 13 games in which he has played.

*The Giants have lost all four games to Philadelphia since Daboll's arrival, including an NFC Divisional Playoff Game last season and a 33-25 decision on Christmas Day. In the first half of those games, the Giants have been outscored by a combined 88-10, including 20-3 two weeks ago.

"We've talked about it," Daboll said. "We talked about it last game, we talked about it last year early in the game and I give our guys a lot of credit coming back and fighting back. But obviously, getting off to a fast start is something we talk a lot about every team we play, but particularly this team. So, we're going to just have to do a good job of executing, coaching, all the things that it takes to get off to a fast start, which we haven't."

*A victory would give the Giants a 3-3 record in the NFC East, a 4-4 record at home, and end a five-game losing streak to the Eagles. But Daboll won't say if a victory Sunday would be particularly meaningful.

"Just like every game," he said. "A win is a good thing. That's what you try to do each week and that's what we'll try to do this week."

*Philadelphia's only victory in the last five games was against the Giants. Last week, the Eagles lost at home to the 4-12 Arizona Cardinals, despite leading by 15 points at halftime. Does that make them more vulnerable?

"I never (think like) that in games," Daboll said. "Every team you play is good, and you've got to play well to give yourself a chance."

View rare photos of the historic rivalry between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

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