Apparently a Modell's getup gives Sterling Shepard a certain Saquon Barkley look.

The Giants receiver went undercover as a Modell's salesman in a video posted by The Checkdown. Shepard had some shoppers fooled, but not in the way he might have expected. 

A male customer approached Shepard thinking he was the Giants rookie running back -- and things got a bit awkward.

On Thursday, Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. was off the practice field, and instead, in a doctor's office as he checked out his quad injury once again. 

Beckham's injury is being called a bruise, but after having to miss last Sunday's win over the Redskins, it appears to be more than that. And when reporters asked Thursday what exactly is ailing Beckham, the star receiver answered as straightforward as he could be.

"I don't know. It's like saying I broke my leg, well you really fractured it," Beckham said. "You know, it's just choice of words, whatever you want to call it. S--t ain't right."

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: Even a miracle needs a hand … or eight hands.

That's what the Giants' playoff hopes have been reduced to in the wake of their 1-7 start to the season. It's actually remarkable that they're even still in the NFC wild-card chase at 5-8, just 1 ½ games out of the final spot with three games to go. It's not even impossible for them to get in at 7-9, which is how crazy -- or perhaps awful -- this race is.

Still, the Giants probably need to win their final three games, beginning on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. And they almost certainly need help from perhaps as many as seven other NFC teams. And they might need it fast from some of them, because if the Giants lose to the Titans they will be eliminated this weekend if either the Vikings, Redskins, Eagles or Panthers win...

Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. will not be practicing on Thursday and is being sent for further evaluation on his quad injury, head coach Pat Shurmur said.

Shurmur added that Beckham being sent for tests doesn't mean he had a setback, and word from the Giants -- according to SNY's Ralph Vacchiano -- is that they're simply trying to be cautious to make sure the injury is nothing more than a bruise. 

The star receiver said he "won't know until Sunday gets here" as to whether or not he'll be able to play against the Titans. He did, however, add "I'm feeling better every day."...

The Giants have no choice but to win, win and win again. And even if Big Blue finish their season going 3-0, New York's playoff contention is still uncertain. In fact, it's virtually impossible.

Even so, the Giants must march forward and remain competitive. Quarterback Eli Manning, no stranger to playing with his back against the wall, prefers to take one day at a time. 

"I think it's important to keep the blinders on," Manning said. "Whether you're doing well, you're doing bad, just keep the focus on our preparation of playing for each other."

Looking at the stat sheet after the Giants 40-16 rout of the Redskins Sunday, it would have been easy for anyone to give the game ball to rookie RB Saquon Barkley. He finished the game with 170 yards rushing with a touchdown on 14 carries to go along with four receptions for 27 yards.

But head coach Pat Shurmur handed the ball game, instead, to WR Sterling Shepard.

Shepard's stat sheet didn't jump off the page one bit with two catches for 17 yards and a touchdown. But it was what he did off the ball that had the entire locker room in agreement he deserved the game ball, and Barkley explained the one play that stood out the most. 

WR Odell Beckham Jr. was a limited participate at Giants practice on Tuesday after missing Sunday's win over the Redskins with a quad injury.

Beckham has been dealing with a bruised quad since the Giants' game against the Eagles on Nov. 25. However, he had not been limited in any capacity before last Friday. It is unclear if Beckham will return Sunday against the Titans at MetLife Stadium.

Giants head coach Pat Shurmur had been adamant that Beckham would play in Washington, but sources told SNY's Ralph Vacchiano that the quad stiffened up on the receiver Saturday, prompting the Giants to rule him out.

Ohio State QB and Heisman Trophy finalist Dwayne Haskins hasn't decided whether or not he wants to enter the NFL Draft in 2019 yet. But, if he did, he would want the Giants to call his name. 

It is no secret the Giants need a quarterback to succeed Eli Manning, and they could very well be looking for one in next year's draft. 

"It would be pretty nice," Haskins, a Highland Park, N.J. native, told The Post's Zach Braziller .

Giants S Landon Collins underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, sources told ESPN.

The 24-year-old Collins, who was placed on season-ending IR last week, is expected to make a full recovery in 4-to-6 months.

While his return to the gridiron in 2019 is probable, it may not come with the Giants.

Pat Shurmur was never going to waver from Eli Manning. 

Despite the Giants head coach at times looking perplexed at his starting quarterback during the team's 1-7 start, Shurmur said he never doubted the 37-year-old. 

"I never did," he told WFAN's Mike Francesa on Tuesday. "I never did."

Former Giants RB Tiki Barber's professional career has revolved around football, whether it was on the gridiron itself or up in the booth. But now he is taking his talents to Broadway.

Barber will join the cast of the Tony Award-winning Kinky Boots, where he will play Don in the Broadway show. He announced the move via Instagram where he went all out with the sparkling red boots...

CLICK BELOW TO SEE

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The revisionist history from the Giants is that they were never in a win-now mode, even though almost every move they made in the offseason seemed to indicate they were. Regardless, it obviously didn't work. They badly overestimated the talent on their roster.

The Giants simply weren't capable of winning now.

But maybe now they are.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

The Giants' hopes for winning the NFC East died in Dallas on Sunday evening. It was a longshot hope anyway after their 1-7 start to the season. But they were eliminated when the Cowboys beat the Eagles in overtime, 29-23.

Over the last few weeks, though, a funny thing has happened: The NFC wild-card chase has opened up. The Giants still have a shot at that. In fact, after the Seattle Seahawks beat the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night, the Giants are just 1 1/2 games out of the second wild-card spot with three games to go.

The Giants were eliminated from the NFC East on Sunday despite blowing out the Washington Redskins.

The Cowboys' 29-23 overtime win over the Eagles put the Giants three games back with three games to go, and the Giants would not be able to hold the tiebreaker over Dallas even if they won their Week 17 matchup.

At 5-8, the Giants would need a miracle to clinch a wild-card berth. The Seahawks (7-5) and Vikings (6-5-1) currently hold the last two playoff spots in the NFC.

Giants running back Saquon Barkley recorded 197 total yards from scrimmage for the second time this season in Sunday's 40-16 win over the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field, yet he put others in the spotlight after the game.

"I think I've done a good job of surrounding myself with the team outside of the facility," Barkley said, according to ESPN. "Obviously, inside the facility, the trainers and the doctors do a great job, but also taking care of my body outside. You go for 170, it's not by yourself. It starts with the team. The coaches made unbelievable calls and the offensive line dominated up front."

Barkley, who became the first Giants rookie to top 1,000 rushing yards, reeled off a 78-yard touchdown run and a 52-yard gain in the second quarter, recording a career-high 170 rushing yards and getting into triple digits for the fourth straight game. 

Oh, if only this Giants run had started just a little bit sooner.

That's going to be the lingering sadness about this season, now that the Giants have won for the fourth time in their last five games. They're now 5-8 after their 40-16 pounding of the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md. on Sunday. They're starting to look like the team they thought they'd be.

If only they hadn't started 1-7. If only they had held on to beat the Philadelphia Eagles two weeks ago...

The Giants' 40-16 win over the Redskins on Sunday improved the team to 5-8, two more wins than last season, but it also keeps their very, very slim playoff hopes alive. 

Head coach Pat Shurmur said on Monday that his goal is to get his team to 8-8 and smirked when mentioned that the Giants are not officially out of the playoff hunt. 

"We're not," Shurmur said. "That may be tough for some of you to grasp."

After rookie running back Saquon Barkley's impressive performance of 170 rushing yards and 27 receiving yards in Sunday's win, the Giants' playoff hopes came to light once again.

The first series of Kyle Lauletta's Giants careeer went like this:

1. Handoff
2. Throw on the run that was incomplete
3. Interception

The 23-year-old Lauletta, who is spending his second week as the backup, entered for Eli Manning late in the Giants' Week 14 matchup with the Redskins with Big Blue up, 40-0...

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THE GAME 

The Giants (4-8) at the Washington Redskins (6-6) at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. ET.

Not only will Giants star WR Odell Beckham Jr. not be on the field in Washington this Sunday, but star S Landon Collins won't be able to help the defense after suffering a torn labrum during the team's Week 13 win over the Bears. 

In turn, players will need to step up in place of these two key cogs on the Giants. For the defense, veteran Michael Thomas will see some more work next to Curtis Riley to replace Collins. But a Giants rookie in S Sean Chandler will also ramp up his work load as well.

Chandler, an undrafted rookie out of Temple, has already seen more snaps on the defensive end in recent weeks. But that responsibility will only increase with Collins out for the rest of the season...

A key cog for the Giants is expected to return when New York faces off against the Redskins on Sunday. 

All signs point to tight end Evan Engram playing his first game in weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury in late November. The injury forced Engram to miss two straight games for the Giants. Engram battled his way throughout the 2018 campaign, missing five games in his sophomore year. He suffered an MCL sprain during the Giants' Week 3 matchup against the Texans that kept him out three straight games.

Now, the 24-year-old says it's important to end his tough year on a high note -- not just for himself, but for the team.

Odell Beckham Jr.'s quad injury appears to be more serious than originally thought. 

The Giants wide receiver was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Redskins on Saturday and did not travel with the team.

Beckham was listed as a limited participant in Friday's practice but head coach Pat Shurmur said he expected the wide receiver to play.

Will Grier is ready to move onto the next step of his career. 

The West Virginia quarterback announced on Saturday that he will not play in his team's bowl game against Syracuse on Dec. 28 and instead take the time to prepare for the NFL Draft. 

"Will and I spoke at length about the bowl game, and I am fully supportive of his decision to begin preparing for the NFL Draft," Mountaineers head coach Dana Holgorsen said

The Giants had an interesting addition to their injury report on Friday. 

Odell Beckham Jr. was listed as a limited participant in Friday's practice due to a bruised quad as they head into the weekend with a matchup against the Redskins. 

Beckham sustained the injury two weeks ago against the Eagles but has not been limited in any capacity before Friday

About five weeks ago it appeared as if the tank was on for the Giants as they went into their bye week at 1-7. 

Yet they are 3-1 since then and have a chance at finishing the season at a respectable 8-8. 

The Giants are playing much better football of late and have certainly shown some progress from last year's debacle of a season that resulted in a 3-13 record and the mid-season firings of head coach Ben McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese. 

Giants star Odell Beckham Jr. signed a five-year, $95 million extension in the offseason to make him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL.

And he knows how he's spending some of it.

Beckham said in his weekly doc-series "I am more: OBJ" that in the offseason, he spends more than $300,000 investing in his body.

"I take care of my body each and every day. I put, probably, over $300,000 in my body in the offseason," Beckham said. "The goal is to get better over time, and I feel I'm only going to get better as I get older."

Three victories in the last four games for the New York Giants has players and fans alike thinking about the possibility of winning out to end the season. But, for now, the focus is on taking things one game at a time, according to star WR Odell Beckham Jr.

"The goal is to win all these games and see what happens," Beckham Jr. said Thursday to reporters. "You have a tough game to play against us for the last four games.

"At this point, we can only focus on Washington. There is no 'what if'. We're going out there to win, and if our season is over, I'm making sure somebody else is coming home with us."

Giants rookie backup QB Kyle Lauletta saw his court date for his arrest in October postponed yet again.

Lauletta was supposed to appear in court on Thursday, but it was adjourned and rescheduled to Dec. 11 at Hudson County Superior Court, per NorthJersey.com's Art Stapleton. 

The 23-year-old was arrested back on Oct. 30 after allegedly almost striking a cop with his vehicle while making an illegal turn in Weehawken, NJ on his way to practice. He was charged with reckless driving, disregarding an officer's directions, improper turn in marked traffic lane and failure to remain in a marked lane. 

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- One year ago this week, the Giants did something they once thought was unthinkable. They cleaned out, firing their coach and general manager in the middle of the season.

The decision was born of desperation. The franchise had no direction. The players were lost. And the whole operation had become the butt of jokes across the NFL nation. The Giants were 2-10 at the time.

One year and two days later, they are 4-8, which is hardly much of an improvement. But to the players, executives and team personnel who endured last season's mess, the improvement has been dramatic.

The Giants did not activate running back Jonathan Stewart off injured reserve on Thursday, the final day he had before his season would officially be over.

Stewart, who suffered a foot injury in late September, practiced on Nov. 15, which permitted him three weeks before his designation to return/return to practice was up. He is almost certain to be cut in the offseason

The 31-year-old Stewart, who totaled six carries for 17 yards in three regular-season games this season, wasn't at Thursday's practice.

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Landon Collins should be back on a football field by this spring after he undergoes surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder sometime next week. At the very least, everyone seems certain that he'll be ready to go by training camp.

What's uncertain, though, is what team he'll be on when camp begins.

Giants S Landon Collins is heading to the IR and will need season-ending surgery after suffering a partially-torn labrum during Sunday's win over the Bears, SNY's Ralph Vacchiano confirmed.

Head coach Pat Shurmur said Collins "most likely will require" surgery, but the Pro Bowler was meeting with team officials to determine the final decision on Tuesday. Recovery following the surgery is expected to be 4-6 months.

The 24-year-old received X-rays on his left shoulder that came back negative, but further testing showed there was clearly an injury.

Landon Collins' 2018 season came to an end Wednesday as the Giants safety prepares to undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

The 24-year-old Collins suffered the injury during Sunday's win over the Bears, and is expected to be recovering for the next 4-to-6 months. The two-time Pro Bowler will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, unless the Giants use the franchise tag on him or sign him to a long-term deal.

Collins' future with the Giants is now far from certain, but several of his teammates indicated that his absence will be a detriment to the team. Simply put, they want him in New York.

The Giants will likely face Mark Sanchez -- yes, that Mark Sanchez -- when they take on the Washington Redskins next week.

The former Jets quarterback replaced Colt McCoy in Washington's 28-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night after McCoy suffered a season-ending broken fibula in the first half.

Sanchez, who hadn't appeared in a game since 2016, was 13 for 21 with 100 yards and one interception in McCoy's absence. The only touchdown drive he led was on his first play, when he handed the ball off to Adrian Peterson for a 90-yard touchdown rush.

Kyle Lauletta got to dress for the first time this season on Sunday, but the Giants backup quarterback won't be making any more leaps on the depth chart just yet. 

Head coach Pat Shurmur reaffirmed Eli Manning is still the Giants starting quarterback for this weekend against the Redskins while there is a "good chance" Lauletta remains as the backup. 

Manning had perhaps his weakest performance of the season despite the 30-27 win over the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears. The 37-year-old quarterback completed just 19 of 35 passes (54 percent) for 170 yards with a touchdown and interception. 

Odell Beckham Jr. certainly knows how to create a spark. 

The Giants wide receiver went into the locker room at halftime with the team trailing the Bears 14-10 on Sunday and felt like he needed to say something. 

So Beckham delivered an empassioned speech. 

Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. defended his effort after he didn't dive for an onside kick that the Bears recovered in Sunday's 30-27 overtime win over Chicago.

After the Bears kicked a field goal with 1:13 remaining, Chicago lined up for an onside kick. Kicker Cody Parkey one-hopped it and it went in Beckham's direction. While Giants safety Curtis Riley missed a block, Beckham appeared to hesitate, allowing Chicago's Daniel Brown to recover.

"It was a great kick," Beckham said, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. "Sometimes, somebody makes a better play than you do. I can dive in there and still not get the ball. It was a very tough call."

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It got lost in the shuffle last week, when everyone freaked out over the way Saquon Barkley wa used in the second half in Philadelphia, but the Giants' defense was absolutely terrible. The Eagles rolled over them in the second half. The Giants defense couldn't get off the field.

They needed a big bounce-back game this week.

They seemed to have it. Then they blew it. And then they bailed themselves out in the end.

With QB Eli Manning struggling, the Giants' pulled some trickery in the third quarter, turning to Odell Beckham Jr., who was flicked the ball and danced adeptly behind the line before hurling a 49-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Russell Shepard. 

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH

Giants head coac Pat Shurmur was incredulous last week when responding to a reporter's question and asking why he would jump over Alex Tanney to get a look at Kyle Lauletta. That seems like hot air now, since Lauletta is active Sunday for the first time this season.

Lauletta will back up Eli Manning with Tanney inactive -- the smart move for a Giants team that would have been doubling down on last year's quarterback mistake if they had turned to Tanney over Lauletta. 

The expectation continues to be that Lauletta will get time at some point this season, likely after the team is officially eliminated from playoff contention, as SNY's Ralph Vacchiano has reported.

A disappointing season for the New York Giants on both sides of the football has taken its toll on the offensive and defensive ranks. It's a season that veteran linebacker Olivier Vernon would likely be happy to put in the rearview mirror.

Vernon has tallied 45.5 sacks in 98 career games -- including 16.5 tackles of the quarterback while in Giants blue -- but only has one sack and 10 tackles so far in six games this season. After missing the first five games to open the season with a high ankle sprain, Vernon's impact has been a muted one in the team's first year of a switch to a 3-4 defensive scheme.

"You never really want to miss time when you're out there, you work hard before every season coming up," Vernon said Friday after practice. "It was just one little bump in the road, and all I can do right now is just the normal game plan and be out there for my team and make the plays that come to me."

The Giants will be without two key cogs when they face off against the Bears on Sunday. 

Tight end Evan Engram will miss his second straight game, as he continues to battle a hamstring injury. He originally suffered the injury during warmups last Sunday when the Giants took on the Eagles. He stayed on the sideline dressed in full uniform, but never took a snap. 

Now, Engram will be in street clothes as the Giants continue their caution. It has been a tough sophomore campaign for No. 88, with this being his fifth game missed. He suffered an MCL sprain during the Giants' Week 3 matchup against the Texans that kept him out three straight games. 

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

THE GAME 

The Giants (3-8) vs. the Chicago Bears (8-3) at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 1 p.m.

THE WEATHER

First the good news: It'll be warm. Like in the low 60s. Now the bad news: It'll be wet. There's a chance for a lot of rain.

WHAT IT MEANS

The Giants are virtually out of playoff contention, but not mathematically out of playoff contention. They're only 3 1/2 games out of first place in the NFC East with five games to go. So if they win and they get some help from … Yeah, I'm not buying it either. This game basically means nothing at all. Pat Shurmur would like to build some momentum. Eli Manning is trying to prove he should be the starter in 2019. A lot of guys are fighting for future jobs. But mostly the only thing to watch now is where the Giants get to pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Odell Beckham Jr. sounded like a player who was done with Eli Manning earlier this season, when he was famously asked if the Giants had a quarterback problem and he responded "Um, I don't know." That answer, and the way he let his frustration boil over on the field, made it clear that he absolutely did.

So imagine how Beckham will feel if Manning sticks around as the Giants quarterback for another year.

The Giants' toughest remaining opponent based on winning percentage is the Chicago Bears, and they likely won't have quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.

With Trubisky dealing with a shoulder injury, the Giants will likely go up against Chase Daniel for Sunday's game, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

Trubisky, the No. 2 pick in the 2017 draft, was limited at Wednesday's practice due to a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder. He didn't play on Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions, and Daniel completed 27 of 37 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-16 win in his absence.

Odell Beckham Jr. said Thursday that he's trusting "the process," taking a page out of the Philadelphia 76ers' oft-cited playbook.

"This is a winning organization. They've won in the past. We just got to trust the process, and at some point in time, the goal is to obviously hang a banner, and raise that trophy," the Giants receiver said. "All you can do is be optimistic and keep pushing forward and getting better."

Beckham and the Giants have their work cut out for them this week ahead of Sunday's home game against Khalil Mack and the Chicago Bears

A 3-8 record through 11 games is not exactly what the doctor ordered for the New York football Giants in their first season with head coach Pat Shurmur, but the team still has its collective eye on the prize entering a matchup on Sunday with the NFC-North leading Chicago Bears (8-3).

And if the 2018 version of the Monsters of Midway are in town, that means get ready for a disruptive effort from one of the best defenses in the league -- not to mention dark horse candidate for league MVP, linebacker Khalil Mack.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning told reporters on Wednesday that Mack "stands out" because of his versatility on defense.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - If Eli Manning does return to the Giants as their starting quarterback in 2019, as SNY reported could happen, that doesn't mean they won't still draft a quarterback in the first round. They might.

But a Manning return could also buy some time so the Giants can look at other options - like perhaps an offensive lineman or pass rusher -- both of which they desperately need.

The Giants are hoping to rebound after blowing a lead against their division rival in the Eagles last Sunday to fall to 3-8. However, they will face an even tougher matchup against the 8-3 Bears on their home turf.

The Bears' defense has been extremely impressive this season, which is why their offense -- a unit that is surely no slouch either -- is flying under the radar.

Head coach Pat Shurmur, Eli Manning, and Saquon Barkley discuss the matchup ahead, and what they can expect from Chicago as they come to town...