DETROIT — This is what the Giants have been waiting for with Jerrel Jernigan.
And this is what Jernigan has been waiting to show the Giants.
With Victor Cruz gone for the final two games following knee surgery, Jernigan moved into the slot receiver spot and came up big in Sunday’s 23-20 overtime victory over the Lions. Jernigan had six catches for 80 yards, including his first NFL touchdown and the key sliding grab to set in OT to set up the game-winning field goal.
“It means a lot,’’ said Jernigan, who battled through a knee issue during the week and a stomach bug Saturday night. “Being at practice every day watching Cruz out there and taking tips from him, learning from him, that’s the best thing you can do right now. People are always saying ‘My time is now, my time is now.’ Well, I haven’t gotten my time. But I just take it as I’m out there practicing every day and learning from the best slot receiver in the game right now.’’
As expected, David Diehl (knee) was inactive for the Giants in Sunday’s game, paving the way for second-year Brandon Mosley to make his first NFL start and give the Giants their seventh different starting offensive line combination. The new-look alignment didn’t last very long.
Mosley did not make it unscathed out of the first quarter, as he suffered a broken hand and was replaced by Dallas Reynolds, a refugee from the practice squad. Reynolds became the fourth right guard the Giants have been forced to use this season. Chris Sneebegan the season at right guard, followed by Diehl and then Mosley and then Reynolds.
“You just got to go out there and do what you’re told and do what you’ve practiced and try to do the best you can,’’ said Reynolds, who went against Lions DT Ndamukong Suh and was not dominated. “You got to stay within your technique when you’re going against players like that.’’
RB Andre Brown was forced out in overtime with a concussion. … Coach Tom Coughlin won a replay challenge midway through the first quarter successfully overturning a no-catch call on the field on what became a 12-yard reception for Jernigan, who leaped to haul in the pass and managed to drag both feet in bounds along the right sideline.
TE Adrien Robinson was active and in uniform for the first time this season. The second-year player was limited by a foot injury in the first half of the season. Incredibly, Robinson lasted only one play. He was injured on the opening kickoff and was carted off with a sprained knee and never returned.
“They don’t think it’s too serious,’’ Robinson. “It’s frustrating. I want to be out there. It’s my first game back, my first play back, that’s sucks. But it happened.’’