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          Six potential Giants starters ruled out with injuries after bye week

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          Graziano says Jenkins still part of Giants' plan (0:53)

          Dan Graziano explains that as long as there is no permanent damage between the Giants and Janoris Jenkins' relationship, he will still be in New York going forward. (0:53)

          • Jordan Raanan, ESPN Staff WriterNov 3, 2017, 04:15 PM
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              Jordan Raanan is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Raanan covers the New York Giants. You can follow him via Twitter @JordanRaanan.
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          EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- So much for the New York Giants getting healthy during the bye week.

          Six players -- all potential starters -- were ruled out for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams. They are: defensive ends Olivier Vernon and Kerry Wynn, linebackers Jonathan Casillas and B.J. Goodson, right tackle Justin Pugh and center Weston Richburg.

          Cornerback Donte Deayon is also questionable with an ankle injury suffered during Thursday's practice.

          The only good news for the Giants: Wide receiver Sterling Shepard (ankle) did not appear on the official Week 9 injury report. He is expected to play after missing the previous two games.

          Pugh, the Giants' best offensive lineman this season, is dealing with a back injury. He will miss his first game of the season. Bobby Hart, who has struggled this year, will replace him in the lineup.

          "Bobby had a good week of practice. He had a productive day [Thursday] in pads," coach Ben McAdoo said. "Expect him to play his best game as a pro this week."

          Brett Jones will start his fourth straight game at center in place of Richburg, who is dealing with a concussion. The Giants will use their sixth offensive line combination in eight games with (from left) Ereck Flowers, John Jerry, Jones, D.J. Fluker and Hart. They face a Rams defense that has Aaron Donald and comes into this week tied for seventh with 23 sacks.

          Vernon and Wynn did not practice throughout the week. Vernon will miss his fourth straight game with an ankle injury; Wynn will miss his first. He was injured in the Giants' loss to the Seattle Seahawks prior to the bye.

          In anticipation of being shorthanded on the defensive line this week, the Giants re-signed Devin Taylor on Tuesday and promoted Jordan Williams from the practice squad. Both are familiar with the defense after battling for jobs in training camp.

          The Giants will also be shorthanded at linebacker without Casillas and Goodson, their starters on the weakside and in the middle. Keenan Robinson, Curtis Grant and Travis Munson are expected to share time to fill the voids.

          Goodson is nursing an injured ankle and should be back in the next few weeks. Casillas made progress this week as he was limited participant in practice with a neck injury, but he did not partake in any contact drills.

          "He feels like he is making progress," McAdoo said. "We'll progress to [contact] next week."

          Cornerback is yet another position of concern for the Giants. They have only four on the roster with starter Janoris Jenkins suspended this week for a violation of team rules. If Deayon can't play, the Giants could be forced to elevate either Brandon Dixon or Tim Scott from the practice squad.

          Another option could be using a safety -- either Nat Berhe or Andrew Adams -- at cornerback in case of emergency. The Giants cross-train their players during training camp and throughout the season, but McAdoo admitted using a safety at cornerback on Sunday is "not ideal."