The New York Giants were without their top return specialists during Wednesday's practice.
Punt returner Richie James (knee) has been battling his injury since Week 8 against Seattle. Meanwhile, kickoff returner Gary Brightwell, who wasn't at Tuesday's practice, missed Wednesday's session due to an illness.
While Brightwell appears to have the better chance of being ready for Sunday as a punt returner, the Giants could look at elevating Kalil Pimpleton from the practice squad.
Pimpleton, 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, initially signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent. He averaged 19.0 yards on 16 punt returns with two touchdowns last season and finished his college career at Central Michigan averaging 11.8 yards per punt return.
Others who did not practice for the Giants on Wednesday include cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (knee), guard Shane Lemieux (toe), and offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu (neck). Cornerback Cor’Dale Flott (concussion) is still in the protocol and was limited Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Giants are hoping to get most if not all of the three players designated for return from IR (edge Azeez Ojulari, guard Ben Bredeson, and defensive back Tony Jefferson) this week, as well as tight end Daniel Bellinger (eye) and offensive tackle Evan Neal (knee), both of whom were not placed on IR but who have been inactive.
The Giants currently have two roster spots on their 53-man roster. Those two openings will presumably go to Ojulari, and either Bredeson or Jefferson.
Of those two, it sounded as though Bredeson might be at least another week away from being ready. If he isn't, the Giants will likely move Nick Gates, who started last week's game at center, to left guard and reinsert Jon Feliciano, who missed the Dallas game with a neck injury, at center.
Check back later for the full Giants injury report.
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