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Giants Now: Kadarius Toney cracks top rookies list

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Kadarius Toney makes PFF's list of top rookies

Despite re-aggravating an ankle injury during Sunday's contest against the Rams that caused him to miss most of the game, Kadarius Toney has still looked quite impressive during his first NFL season.

Pro Football Focus released its list of the top 15 highest-graded rookies through the first six weeks of the season, where Toney and his 77.0 overall grade came in at No. 7.

"Toney aggravated his ankle injury just six snaps into last Sunday's game against the Rams. In the two games prior, when he first cracked the starting lineup, Toney racked up 267 yards on 16 catches with eight broken tackles," writes PFF's Michael Renner.

As mentioned above, the rookie wide receiver played only six snaps in Week 6 before leaving with an ankle injury, but still caught three passes for 36 yards on that first drive. Toney earned an 86.4 overall grade from PFF for his limited action against the Rams.

The first-round pick set a new single-game Giants rookie record with his 189 receiving yards against the Cowboys in Week 5. It was also the most yards in a game by a rookie wide receiver this season.

Another Giant who has impressed PFF through the first six weeks of the season is defensive lineman Leonard Williams.

Williams put up a good performance this past Sunday, recording 7 tackles (three solo), 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss and two quarterback hits. He earned a 76.3 overall grade from PFF, including a strong 77.5 run defense grade.

The 27-year-old lineman now has three sacks on the season. Williams' 78.6 overall grade currently ranks 10th among all interior defensive linemen, while his elite 85.6 run defense grade is the fourth-highest.

View the best photos of wide receiver Kadarius Toney's rookie season with the Giants.

Short-handed Giants prepare for Panthers matchup

Three of the Giants' last four first-round draft choices were not on the practice field Wednesday, and the team must continue to compensate for their absence as they prepare for their home game Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

Left tackle Andrew Thomas (2020) was placed on injured reserve yesterday with foot and ankle injuries. He must miss at least three games, meaning Thomas can return no earlier than the Nov. 22 Monday night game at defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay. Running back Saquon Barkley (2018) was inactive for the Giants' loss to the Los Angeles Rams because of a sprained ankle he suffered the previous week in Dallas. Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (2021) aggravated an ankle injury after making his third and final catch on the opening drive against the Rams.

Also absent was wide receiver Kenny Golladay, whose knee injury kept him out of the Rams game.

The good news is that quarterback Daniel Jones (the team's top draft choice in 2019) remains healthy and practiced fully. But he will lead an offense on Sunday that will again be at less than full strength.

Without Thomas, the Giants' remaining tackles are Nate Solder, Matt Peart, and Korey Cunningham, who was signed off the practice squad yesterday. Solder has started all six games this season, at right tackle in five games and at left tackle in Dallas, where Thomas was in uniform but did not play. When Thomas left the game last week early in the second quarter, Peart stepped in at left tackle.

So, who will play where against the Panthers?

"You'll see all three tackles play this week," coach Joe Judge said. "I would expect all of our guys to play both right and left. That's what we're going to practice and prepare this week. You'll see Nate, Matt and Cunningham out there.

"It's our job to have all the players prepared. It's their job to be prepared and go out there and be productive. You don't want to lose any player. I think Andrew has done a really good job obviously going through some stuff in the offseason, coming back, played very well. He's been improving as a player throughout his career for us. He's a guy on the offensive line that we have a lot of confidence in as a player. He prepares extremely well and does a good job coming in ready to go every day. But we're confident in Matt, Nate and Cunningham getting out there and playing for us as well."

📸 Through the Years: Giants vs. Panthers

Check out the gallery below to view rare photos of the history between the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers ahead of their Week 7 matchup.

View rare photos of the history between the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers.

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Tickets for Marvel Super Hero™ Day

Limited tickets are available for Marvel Super Hero™ Day on October 24th vs. Panthers

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