Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz sees chances for big passing plays Sunday in San Diego.
“This week we have some opportunities to make some big plays against the style of defense that they run. We’ll see what happens,” Cruz said. “It’s just what we see from them defensively, things we can open up against. It’s just like we saw some things against the Redskins and how they played. We were able to capitalize on certain plays, although not as much as we wanted to.’’
The Giants only have two catches over 30 yards in the last six weeks. But Cruz — who had six receptions for 80 yards at Washington — thinks that can improve against the Chargers.
Tight end Brandon Myers missed practice with a sore groin, but he said it was just a one-day issue and expected to be unfettered on Friday.
“Tomorrow, I’ll be back full go,’’ Myers said. “It’s unfortunate; but when the body says you’re a little sore, you’ve got to let it rest a little bit. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Myers has played his best over the past couple of weeks. He had three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Cowboys, then backed that up with five catches and a TD in last Sunday’s win over the Redskins.
“A lot of things go into it, it’s not just as easy as pitch and catch,” Myers said. “The last few weeks we’ve connected, and we’ve made a few first downs and a couple touchdowns. You just kind of hope to build off that and just keep going one game at a time and then build on it.”
Running back Brandon Jacobs (knee) and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder) did not practice. Neither played last Sunday, and Pierre-Paul is not expected to practice Friday, although Jacobs could be back at practice, according to coach Tom Coughlin.
Cornerbacks Trumaine McBride (groin), Terrell Thomas (knee) and Corey Webster (ankle) were all limited. Coughlin said McBride “worked 50 percent” and Webster is “working a little bit better.”
Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said McBride’s availability for Sunday would be “a training-room decision. I’ve got my fingers crossed,” while he was encouraged by the physical play of Jayron Hosley, who started at left corner last Sunday and could do so again against the Chargers even if McBride plays.
“I was very proud of Jayron, the way he came in and played,” Fewell said. “He initiated some friendly fire. On one of the plays, he came up for run support and [linebacker Jon] Beason was in his way and he knocked the [hell] out of Beason. He showed me right there he’s not afraid to hit something.’’
Rookie defensive end Damontre Moore played just 17 snaps on defense Sunday, and with Pierre-Paul likely out, Fewell said Moore’s workload likely will increase, not just as a situational pass-rusher, but in base defense as well.
“He’s a complete football player,” Fewell said. “He’s got to be able to play the run and the pass. So we’ll use him as both.’’
Special teams coach Tom Quinn watched the end of last week’s Auburn-Alabama classic — won on Chris Davis’ 109-yard return of a missed field goal — with a professional eye.
“It’s a situation we work on. We get a bunch of time to work on it. We try to work on it with the field-goal team. Every last field goal we cover,’’ Quinn said. “But obviously there’s a physical mismatch when you’ve got a returner against linemen.”