"I?m not sure why it took us three years to find out that Jerrel Jernigan can play. We finally put him in the game and he starts making plays" - CEO John Mara

It might be a small sample size, but Jerrel Jernigan, the New York Giants third-year wide receiver, stepped up and showed the world he belonged. In the last three games, Jernigan had 19 catches for 237 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

The loss eliminates the Lions from playoff contention. But even so, the Giants? offense looked totally inept at times ? in fact, most of the time.

Big Blue led 13-3 at halftime, and for the most part, the makeshift offense line held its own against a tough Detroit defensive front. And Jerrel Jernigan ? who was the team?s leading receiver last week against the Seahawks ? had four catches, including a great catch on his first career touchdown reception, in the first half.

He has already joined the Giants on the field for practices.

?I?m happy to be back,? Barden said. ?This is where I wanted to be and now I?m here. I was out there listening to the calls, getting back into the rhythm of the cadence, enjoying the camaraderie and absorbing everything. I remember everything; I?ve had four years to soak it all up. I?m happy to be back on the field. I feel great. I expect the best.?

With neither Victor Cruz nor Hakeem Nicks in attendance at Giants off-season team activities, Eli Manning has had no choice but to?rely on the younger wide receivers.

Among them: second and third-year players Reuben Randle and Jerrel Jernigan, as well as free-agent addition Louis Murphy.

So, did Eli Manning like what he saw today from the back of the depth chart?

"Yeah. I hit Louis (Murphy) on a deep one. I got Rueben (Randle) in there. I got (Jerrel) Jernigan some catches. We?re getting everybody in there getting them a lot of reps, getting on time with them. We?re always going to get better. Whoever is on the field, we?re going to expect them to go out there and play at a high level. So I think the more guys you have who are experienced and ready to play different positions, the better off we?re going to be."

That means there is a slot to fill.

In Cruz's absence, third-year wideout Jerrel Jernigan is getting reps as the slot receiver. Though offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride expects Cruz to return to the team this season, he doesn't think it can hurt to allow Jernigan to have some opportunities.

Yet that duo is in some jeopardy, with Nicks recovering from injury and Cruz?s contract status up in the air.

But all signs point to the Giants working out a deal with Cruz and Nicks being fully ready to go for the 2013 season.

A lot could be blamed on the fact that their primary punt returner ? Domenik Hixon ? went down for the season with a knee injury after only two games. Hixon returned 3 punts in those two games for a total of 31 yards with a long of 18.

In Hixon?s absence, several players fielded punts: Victor Cruz, Antrel Rolle, Will Blackmon and Aaron Ross. None did anything of significance. Ross actually had only one more return (14) that he had fair catches (13).

Giants' WR Jerrel Jernigan goes up for a pass during the ream's training camp session in Albany this afternoon. (AP Photo/Evan Pinkus)

Rookie CB Jayron Hosley has the potential to beat out Domenik Hixon and Jerrel Jernigan for the Giants' punt return duties this season. At Virginia Tech, Hosley averaged 12 yards per attempt and had TDs of 64 and 80 yards.

Most position battles are relatively meaningless developments until late July, when training camps begin and players focus on preparing for the upcoming season. Coaches deliberating position competitions usually consider each players? entire body of work?career production, minicamp performance, injury history, work ethic, physical attributes, potential for growth?but the decision ultimately rests on a given players? level of preparedness heading into week 1. Whichever player best exhibits the qualities needed at his position to help his team win when the regular season begins should get the nod over his competitors. It?s pretty simple. These predicaments exist on most every NFL roster and they are for the most part altogether good problems to have. Multiple players fighting for a single spot leads to intense competition, the kind that brings out the best and most consistent effort in each competitor. Even defending Super Bowl champions need to resolve these sorts of issues, and the 2012 Giants are no exception.

With the 77^th installment of the NFL draft now officially in the books, seven new faces?excluding UDFA?s?join the defending Super Bowl champs hoping to accomplish the same feat in 2012. While all of the Giants? draft picks can?t be pegged as surefire starters in the fall, they are sure to have an impact over the next five months as roster sizes are cut from 90 to 53.

Here?s how the newest class of rookies fit in:

The Giants are hoping last year's draftees such as WR Jerrel Jernigan can win starting jobs.

The Giants have been known to find gems in the middle and late rounds. This year, they may have hit the jackpot. ?Yesterday morning, I wrote the following and was mocked by many a reader:

S Tyler Sash is in, as are LB Jacquian Williams and RB Da?Rel Scott. The Giants would be ill advised to cut any of them. They could ? COULD - just be looking at their new Jason Sehorn, Jesse Armstead and David Meggett in those three.

They do not throw the football over the middle of the field. They have no legitimate TE to handle that duty and only one WR (Domenik Hixon) who is capable of handling it. Hence, every pass is either over or around the defense.

Opponents will catch on to this (if they haven't already) real soon and adjust accordingly. The Giants will have nothing to counter with. They should have drafted a tight end.

So, this will be a good time to try and squash all of the negative energy and see what this team is made of. There is sure to be a lot of rust, as there should with any post-lockout preseason game.

With that said, here are five things to look for tonight.

Jacobs is uncertain about his future as well. Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN New York

Jerrel Jernigan has some big shoes to fill. Michael Eisen, Giants.com

The Giants haven?t had a game changing player in quite some time. Sure they?ve had plenty of star power, but rarely have they had a player that teams feared on both offense and special teams.

I have recently had the pleasure of interviewing the Giants 3rd round draft pick Jerrel Jernigan. New York fans are hoping that he can become the player that all other teams have to game plan for when facing the Giants.

Kordell Stewart...I mean Jerrel Jernigan wider receiver from Troy.?? Really?

The Associated Press announced that the New York Giants have filled their need a wide receiver with standout Jerrel Jernigan.? Need?

The Giants have added kick returner/WR Jerrel Jernigan (a la Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson) to bolster their pathetic special teams.

JERREL JERNIGAN - Wide Receiver/Return Specialist