It seems everything and everyone the Giants coaching staff and front office touches these days turns into gold. Here is a closer look at nine unexpected contributors to the four-game winning streak:
Cam Brown, OLB
Rookie sixth-round pick
He might have “$70 million” worth of pass-rush potential, but for now the Penn State product’s biggest plays are a forced fumble in punt coverage against Washington and a shoestring tackle to stop a possible punt return touchdown by the Bengals.
Carter Coughlin, OLB
Rookie seventh-round pick
He sacked Tom Brady back when he still mostly was a special-teams contributor. Now? The Minnesota product is the biggest beneficiary of the depleted outside-linebacker depth chart, as he played 45 defensive snaps against the Seahawks.
Tae Crowder, ILB
Rookie seventh-round pick
“Mr. Irrelevant” as the last pick of the draft fittingly sparked the Giants’ first win when he returned a fumble 43 yards for a touchdown against Washington. After three weeks on injured reserve, he had seven tackles and a sack against the Seahawks.
Niko Lalos, OLB
Undrafted rookie free agent
Call him “The Takeaway Machine.” The Dartmouth product was playing defensive line until the rash of injuries at outside linebacker, and the immediate dividends include a diving interception and a fumble recovery in back-to-back games.
Shane Lemieux, LG
Rookie fifth-round pick
He played one snap — at fullback! — until Week 8. Since then, the Oregon product has replaced former second-round pick Will Hernandez as the starting left guard, taking the bulk of the snaps even when they rotate.
Austin Mack, WR
Undrafted rookie free agent
He led the team with 72 receiving yards (and had a touchdown taken off the board by replay) in Golden Tate’s absence against Washington. The Ohio State product came off the practice squad Week 6 and is entrenched as the No. 4 receiver.
Alfred Morris, RB
Ninth season, signed to practice squad and promoted
He played in one NFL game between Dec. 30, 2018, and Nov. 1, 2020, but is averaging 4.8 yards per carry and scored both touchdowns, including his first career receiving score, in the upset of the Seahawks.
Jabaal Sheard, OLB
10th season, signed off Jaguars’ practice squad
He has 105 starts and 53 sacks to his name but was out of the NFL until Oct. 12. The Giants stole Sheard eight days later, and he sealed a win against the Bengals with a strip-sack to prevent a game-winning field-goal attempt in the final minute.
Isaac Yiadom, CB
Third season, acquired in trade with Broncos for seventh-round pick
He joined the Giants after training camp, played some for four weeks, was benched for three weeks and has played all 312 snaps during the last five games. The receiver Yiadom has matched up with has 40 yards or fewer in four of those five.
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