Logan Ryan had it all figured out.
The New York Giants cornerback, who missed the previous two games due to COVID-19, wasn’t going to sit idly by while his teammates took the field in Weeks 11 and 12.
“I thought it was a possibility [to play], and I packed my equipment,” Ryan said. “I did everything I could to try to get a negative test. I actually did, but it was just too close to game time.
“Trust me, I wanted to pull up in the parking lot with my uniform on and run in, right before kickoff, but the NFL doesn’t allow it based on protocols and stuff like that.”
Ryan’s wait is finally over as he’s been cleared to play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins down in Florida — providing a sizable boost to a shorthanded Giants secondary that managed to hold the Philadelphia Eagles to just seven points on Sunday while picking Jalen Hurts off three times.
“It was very weird that everyone was going to the game and I was staying at home,” Ryan said. “It just was very weird and different, but the guys stepped up. The guys played great, held it down for me. Very encouraging. We’ve got a lot of young guys on our team, on our defense especially, that have just grown up.’’
The Week 12 win over the Eagles was the Giants’ third in five games, improving their record to 4-7 while keeping their faint playoff dreams alive.
“A playoff team needs to be a team that’s resilient,” Ryan said. “It doesn’t matter how it went. I was on a Tennessee [Titans] team that was 2-4. We were 5-5 at one point. We fought our way back every game to make a run when it mattered, and this is the time of the year, the urgency’s up.
“This is the time of the year where you have to start playing well.”
While the Giants have had historical success against the Dolphins, this is a different AFC East side — one that is red-hot winning four straight games to get back into the playoff picture at 5-7.
Luckily for the Giants, Ryan has some knowledge of their next opponents as he worked with them on scout teams during his time with the New England Patriots (2013-2016).
“I know this team,” Ryan said. “I like this game. We need it. It’s going to be a good challenge out there… I know [Dolphins head coach] Brian Flores well. I know [co-offensive Coordinator] George Godsey well. I know [defensive coordinator] Josh Boyer. He was my coach in New England.”
Added knowledge of the opponent will only help a Giants defense that has allowed 20 points or fewer in four of their last five games. They’ve also recorded an interception in eight-straight games — the longest such streak from an NFL team this season.
“They’re playing as well as anybody in football right now at finding ways to win,” Ryan said. “A playoff team finds ways to win: ugly, pretty, whatever it is. You have to find ways to win.”
