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5 Players to Watch: Jameis Winston to make Giants debut

PLAYERS-TO-WATCH-WEEK-11

The Giants will look to rebound from their losing streak when they take on the Packers at MetLife Stadium in Week 11.

After losing four consecutive games, the Giants made a significant change as Mike Kafka was named the interim head coach. There was also a change at quarterback, as Jameis Winston will now start this Sunday in the place of the injured Jaxson Dart, who is working his way through the concussion protocol.

The Packers come into this game having lost two consecutive games themselves, with their most recent loss coming on Monday night against the Eagles. Following this outing against the Giants, the Packers will face off against each of their division rivals the following three weeks.

Here are five players to watch in the Week 11 matchup.

QB Jameis Winston

Jameis Winston is set to make his Giants debut, with Russell Wilson serving as the backup. In three preseason games this summer, Winston completed 17 of 30 passes for 219 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also added three rush attempts for 12 yards and an additional touchdown.

In 12 games (seven starts) last year with the Browns, the veteran quarterback completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Winston's 9.2 air yards per attempt ranked as the third-highest mark among all quarterbacks last year. He completed just nine of 30 passes of 20+ air yards, but seven of the nine went for touchdowns, with his 23.3 percent touchdown conversion rate on such throws finishing as the highest in the NFL. If there's anything to know about Winston's style of play, it's that he's not going to hesitate to put the ball up there and let his pass-catchers make a play.

"I've been waiting on this moment, man," Winston told the media Wednesday. "So, the shock was off, the rust is off. It's like, hey, you get to play. And when you get to play, nothing else matters but taking it one play at a time and doing your very best. Because we all have different circumstances, conditions, and facts and I know that. But, man, I'm extremely grateful. I choose to focus on what's true and that's my mentality, that's my opportunity, being able to lead this team, and that's my action. So going out there, being energetic, enthusiastic, serving every single way that I can, and playing the best football I possibly can play."

The Packers rank 11th in passing yards and touchdowns allowed this season, although their 5.2 net yards per attempt allowed is the second-lowest mark in the league. Meanwhile, the unit is allowing a 64.7 passer rating on throws 20+ yards downfield, the 10th-lowest in the NFL. Winston's style of play does make him prone to throwing interceptions, evidenced by his 111 career interceptions. However, Green Bay comes into this game with just three interceptions on the season, tied for the third-lowest total.

See the top photos from practice as the Giants prepare for their Week 11 matchup against the Packers.

TE Theo Johnson

Theo Johnson has seen his production increase significantly since Malik Nabers went down in Week 4. But the second-year tight end was leaned on even more so this past week in Chicago. Johnson set career highs with his seven receptions on eight targets for 75 yards. The receptions were the most on the team, while the yardage finished second behind Darius Slayton's 89.

Johnson now has 33 receptions for 314 yards and five touchdowns through the first 10 games of the season. The receptions and touchdowns are already more than he had in his 12 games as a rookie, while he needs just 18 more yards to top last year's yardage. While most of his production this season has come with Dart at quarterback, Johnson should see ample opportunities with Winston under center.

As good as the Packers defense has been in 2025, they have struggled at times to slow down tight ends. The Green Bay defense has allowed 60 receptions to tight ends thus far, tied for the seventh-most and just four receptions behind Seattle for the most in the league. Meanwhile, their five touchdowns allowed to tight ends are tied for the ninth-most. In last week's loss in Philadelphia, Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert totaled four receptions for 43 yards.

LT Andrew Thomas

Lost in all of the news has been the solid play of the offensive line, led by Andrew Thomas. After missing the start of the season due to last year's foot injury, the left tackle has returned to his 2022 All-Pro form. In last week's loss to the Bears, Thomas was credited with just one total pressure allowed, according to Pro Football Focus, which marked the second consecutive week in which he allowed just one total pressure.

In fact, PFF credits Thomas with zero sacks allowed on the season and just nine total pressures. Thomas has allowed one pressure or fewer in five of his seven full games this season, which has led to the analytics site ranking Thomas as one of the NFL's top tackles in pass protection. Thomas' dominant performance since returning in Week 3 has played a significant role in PFF ranking Giants as the NFL's No. 11 offensive line heading into Week 11.

Thomas and the rest of the offensive line will have their hands full on Sunday going up against a strong Packers front, led by their talented duo on the edge. Thomas is likely to see plenty of Micah Parsons this weekend, with the former Cowboy ranking second on the team with 6.5 sacks, while his 50 total pressures are the third-most in the NFL. Rashawn Gary leads the Green Bay defense with 7.5 sacks on the season.

"He's as disruptive a pass rusher and defensive player as we've seen," new offensive coordinator Tim Kelly said Thursday. "Fortunately for us, I think we have two pretty good tackles. So, we're going to have to pick our spots there and do a good job of making sure he doesn't wreck the game. But being smart in terms of making sure we're not compromising either aspect there."

OLB Brian Burns

Brian Burns was held without a sack in last week's loss to the Bears, marking just the second game all season in which he has failed to register a sack. He still managed to generate some pressure on Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, finishing with two quarterback hits, one tackle for loss and three total pressures to go with his five total tackles.

Heading into Week 11, Burns remains at the top of the NFL leaderboard with his 11 sacks, tied with Cleveland's Myles Garrett for the most in the league. Fellow outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux has yet to practice this week, putting his status for Sunday in doubt. If Thibodeaux is unable to suit up, Burns and rookie Abdul Carter will have to step up, both in the pass rush and against the run.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love was sacked three times in last week's loss to the Eagles. It marked the second-highest sack total allowed in a game all season for the Packers offensive line, and the first time Love had been sacked more than once in a game since Week 3 against the Browns. Love has completed a whopping 82.0 percent of his passes for 1,726 yards, 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions when facing no pressure, good for a 124.9 passer rating. But his numbers drop to a 43.1 completion percentage for 345 yards, one touchdown and one interception when pressured, earning him a 56.8 passer rating on such plays.

CB Cor'Dale Flott

Cor'Dale Flott made his return to game action this past Sunday after missing Week 9 due to a concussion. The last time we had seen Flott on the field, the fourth-year corner had allowed three receptions for 49 yards against the Eagles before taking some friendly fire from Bobby Okereke, which caused the concussion. In his first game back, Flott bounced back to his early-season form, allowing just two receptions for six yards on four targets, earning a passer rating against of just 56.3.

Flott has taken his game to the next level in his fourth NFL season. The 24-year-old corner has allowed more than three receptions in just one game this season and has earned a passer rating against below 80.0 in six of nine outings. Flott has still yet to surrender a touchdown in coverage, according to PFF, while earning a 61.4 passer rating against on the season. He has also been called for only one penalty on 515 total defensive snaps.

The secondary might receive more reinforcements this weekend as cornerback Paulson Adebo returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering a knee injury against the Broncos in Week 7. Adebo's potential return would certainly provide a boost to the defensive backfield.

The Packers lost one of their top pass-catchers for the season when tight end Tucker Kraft suffered a torn ACL in Week 9. The injury leaves wide receiver Romeo Doubs as the clear top option in the Green Bay passing game. Doubs leads the team with 35 receptions, while his 446 yards and four touchdowns trail only Kraft. While Doubs suffered a chest injury on Monday night, he was a full participant in Wednesday's walkthrough practice, putting him on pace to play in Week 11. Outside of Doubs, Love spreads the ball around pretty evenly to his other pass-catchers, including Matthew Golden, Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks and others.

View photos of the history between the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers.

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