Pat Shurmur is unsure of whether or not three top playmakers will be available for Week 13, but the second-year head coach and the Giants know what boost they would get if their banged-up trio could give it a go.

Ahead of Sunday's 1 p.m. game against the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers (8-3), the reeling Giants (2-9) -- who have lost their past seven games -- could see tight end Evan Engram and wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate all back on the field together.

While he did not present too much of an update in his Wednesday media availability, Shurmur said that the return of Engram -- absent since Nov. 4's 37-18 loss to the Dallas Cowboys (6-5) with a mid-foot sprain -- remains a possibility.

"He's still on the report, so we'll just see," Shurmur said of Engram. "We'll just have to see."

Engram spoke twice last week about potentially returning for Sunday's 19-14 loss to the Chicago Bears (5-6), but he ultimately missed his second straight game.

"Yeah, I mean he's making progress," Shurmur said of Engram, who lead the Giants' receivers with 44 receptions for 467 yards and three touchdowns in eight games. "But we'll see if we have enough time with regard to this game."

The Giants have also missed Shepard and Tate, who are both working back from respective concussions, to varying degrees.

Shepard, who suffered two concussions in three weeks, returned to action against the Bears for the first time since Oct. 6's 28-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings and caught five passes for 15 yards and took one carry for 22 yards as the Giants struggled on offense.

Tate, meanwhile, suffered his concussion when he came down with a touchdown reception in the fourth quarter of the loss to the Bears.

"Hopefully Tate can get back as quick as he can because he's a tremendous player," said running back Saquon Barkley. "Just been playing great for us this season."

If the Giants get all three back on the field by the weekend, the Packers -- among the bottom five defenses in the NFL, allowing 380.5 total yards per game -- present an opportunity for a return to the win column.

"I think we're confident in the guys to step up," said quarterback Daniel Jones. "We've had guys go down, but I think every time someone's gone down, someone's stepped up and played well. So I have a lot of confidence in those guys and I think we have chemistry across the board with a lot of different people. So I have confidence in them and I know the team does, too, so we'll be ready."

Popular in the Community