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Giants' Deonte Banks has effort called into question

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks slowed down while trying to tackle quarterback Jalen Hurts during a fourth-quarter play on Sunday. He didn't make the play near the sideline despite having an angle, and Hurts ran for another 7 yards and a first down.

It was the second time this season that the young cornerback's effort came into question. It happened right in front of his position coach -- defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson -- who was irate with last year's first-round pick.

Banks knew immediately it was a bad look and told his teammates in the locker room he had a bad play.

"It won't happen again. It can't," Banks said Friday. "Just taking accountability for what happened."

The only problem is that a similar situation unfolded several weeks back in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Banks gave questionable effort while trying to tackle CeeDee Lamb on a 55-yard touchdown. There is a belief he could've made the tackle before Lamb reached the end zone.

Henderson made his displeasure known after that one as well.

"Didn't like it. Liked nothing about it," he said of the gaffe vs. the Cowboys.

It's now twice in four games that Banks has given questionable effort on a play. He has also allowed four touchdowns as the nearest defender, according to NextGen Stats. That is tied for the second most in the NFL this year.

Banks said he wasn't fined on either occasion, and coach Brian Daboll said he will start on Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"You address it with the player and you move on," Daboll said.

The Giants need more from Banks. He was penciled in as their No. 1 cornerback to start the season, and they have used him at times to cover teams' No. 1 wide receivers.

It just so happens that the Giants could already be short on cornerbacks Monday night. Cor'Dale Flott (groin), Adoree' Jackson (neck) and Tre Hawkins III (ankle) have all missed practice time this week.

Banks' struggles haven't gone unnoticed in the locker room. It's all there to see when the team is watching the film.

"It's not acceptable," defensive captain Dexter Lawrence II said. "He knows it. We addressed it and that's the type of thing that we don't accept as a defense."

Banks said he misjudged the play against the Eagles, thinking that Hurts was closer to the sideline than he was. He also is of the belief that even though they were both "bad" plays, the one against Lamb and Dallas was different. Banks is confident it won't happen again because there is nothing in his past that shows him consistently slowing down on plays.

Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said Banks has responded well this week. Still, the jury is out.

"We'll see," Bowen said. "We'll see come [Monday]."