Giants Elevate Two Ahead of Week 2 Game vs. Arizona

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The New York Giants have elevated outside linebacker Oshane Ximines and running back Taiwan Jones from the practice squad ahead of Sunday's Week 2 game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Ximines's elevation is a sure sign that linebacker Azeez Ojulari, who developed a hamstring issue during a 1-on-1 drill in Wednesday's practice, will be among the inactive. Ximines, a third-round pick by the Giants in 2019, has appeared in 49 games with nine starts. He has 67 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 22 quarterback hits, six pass breakups, and a forced fumble over his career.
This is his first elevation from the practice squad.
Jones, a running back by trade, is being called up for the second week to assist the Giants on special teams. Last week, he appeared in 15 special teams snaps and had two missed tackles, per Pro Football Focus.
The Giants' special teams have had their share of struggles of late, and Jones, who has made a career of playing all the special teams, is being looked upon to help stabilize that part of New York's game.
With left tackle Andrew Thomas ailing, the Giants did not elevate any offensive linemen. Thomas, listed as questionable with a hamstring strain, will be a game-time decision. Still, it's widely believed that he will sit out Sunday's game against the Cardinals, what with the Giants having a tougher opponent on deck in the 49ers four days later.
Still, Thomas, who was limited the last two days in practice, will test out his hamstring before the game before a final decision is made.
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Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.
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