Daniel Bellinger’s NFL career got off to a slow start after he was not targeted in the season opener against the Titans. However, the rookie tight end has picked it up in the two games since.

Bellinger caught his first NFL reception against the Panthers in Week 2 and took it 16 yards for a touchdown. Then, he caught four passes for 40 yards against the Cowboys. Heading into Week 4, his 70.1 overall grade ranks No. 7 among all tight ends and is the top mark among rookies at the position.

“Bell’ has done a great job,” said the offensive coordinator. “(Tight ends) Coach (Andy) Bischoff has done a great job with him since he’s gotten in here. I think you’re just seeing that type of growth from that kid. He’s just putting in the work every single day and he’s improving. He’s improving a lot of things – run blocking, route running. You’re seeing it at practice and you’re seeing it show up in the game.”

Kayvon Thibodeaux made his NFL debut on Monday. Although he didn’t blow up the box score, the rookie outside linebacker put together a solid overall performance. He finished with one solo tackle, a pressure and a pass breakup, and received the third-highest overall mark on the Giants defense with his 73.2 overall grade. Limited to just 37 snaps in his debut, Thibodeaux’s overall grade is the highest among rookie edge rushers going into Week 4. Fellow outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari also made his 2022 debut in Week 3. Ojulari, who set the franchise rookie sack record last season with eight, drew two holding penalties on the Cowboys. Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale liked what he saw from the pair of pass rushers in their first game back.

“[Thibodeaux] really hasn’t practiced that much since the injury,” said Martindale. “He’s done a lot of rehabbing and all that stuff, but he hasn’t done a lot of 11 on 11 work, with Kayvon. As you know, and I think Brian (Daboll) noted, they were on a pitch count. Zeez drew two holding calls, so that tells me that he’s doing things right. I think it’s nowhere to go but up with those two and I’m excited to see it.”

“I feel like it was a pretty good game given the circumstances of the situation and how the game was actually played,” Thibodeaux told the media Thursday. “So, I don’t think anything’s really missing. As far as the team I feel like we could’ve executed at a higher level in the run defense. I think that kind of got away from us. Individually, I feel like I could’ve executed more but health-wise I feel confident in being able to deliver on the field.”

Thibodeaux came out of his first game healthy and will look to build on his performance in Week 3 against the Bears. One of the biggest things the No. 5 overall pick picked up on in his first NFL action? You can’t do everything yourself.

“I would say that you’re not superman,” the rookie OLB said about what he learned on Monday. “There are times where you want to be the reason we win, there are times where you want to be the guy and you’ve got to realize that the game isn’t played like that. There are eleven people for a reason, it’s a team sport for a reason. So just making sure that you contribute as much as you can and to the best of your ability given the circumstances.”

The Giants have been forced to make some lineup changes at several positions due to injuries in the first month of the season, with cornerback being one of them. Veteran Adoree’ Jackson has been consistent on the outside, staying on the field for nearly every defensive snap thus far this year. Jackson has registered 16 tackles (12 solo), one pass breakup and a fumble recovery through the first three games.

While Darnay Holmes has handled the slot, the Giants have had a bit of a revolving door at the other outside corner spot. Aaron Robinson manned the spot in the season opener and played well as he picked up 73.4 overall, 72.4 coverage and 78.3 tackling grades from PFF. The second-year corner had to have his appendix removed soon after and missed the next two games.

The Giants saw two players step up in Robinson’s absence, Fabian Moreau and Cor’Dale Flott. In his first game with the Giants back in Week 2, Moreau was on the field for 17 snaps and earned a 69.5 overall grade, which included a 75.4 tackling trade and 67.5 coverage grade. His overall mark was the fourth-highest on the defense. On Monday, the veteran played 39 snaps at cornerback and got 70.8 overall and 79.1 tackling grades, which helped him raise his overall season grade to 72.9 and his coverage grade to 71.0. As for Flott, the rookie earned a 68.8 overall grade against the Cowboys, while his 73.2 run defense grade was the third-highest on the team.

Daboll told the media on Friday that Flott “probably won’t be able to go this week,” and the corner was later ruled out on the final injury report. Meanwhile, Robinson practiced fully Friday and was not given an injury designation, meaning the second-year corner will play Sunday. Moreau is likely to see some action as well.

The Chicago Bears make it no secret what they want to do on offense – they want to pound the ball on the ground. The Bears are the most run-heavy team (65%) in the NFL and enter Week 4 ranked second in the league in both rushing attempts (104) and yards (560). David Montgomery suffered knee and ankle injuries in last week’s win, and he will not suit up this weekend after being ruled out Friday. Montgomery has averaged 4.5 yards per carry this season, taking 35 carries for 159 yards. With Montgomery out, Khalil Herbert will take over as the starting running back. Stepping in for the injured starter last week, Herbert ran the ball 20 times for an impressive 157 yards (7.9 avg.) and two touchdowns against the Texans. He has 240 yards on 33 carries (7.3 avg.) and three touchdowns.

“We’re going to have a great test this week because an elite running game is coming to town here at MetLife,” said the defensive coordinator. “We have to make sure we’re on point every single play because they have two really good backs, and their quarterback is phenomenal with the ball in his hands as well… those backs are explosive backs who run hard, old school hard. That offensive line, they work well together, especially in the run game.

As Martindale mentioned, Justin Fields is also a threat to run with the ball. The second-year quarterback has registered 27 rushing attempts this season and has gained 95 yards with a touchdown. The former No. 11 overall pick ran for 420 yards on 72 carries (5.8 avg.) with two touchdowns last year.

(*10*) Martindale said about being aggressive with pressures against a mobile QB. “I think that we’ll work on that this week and try to give him some different looks, but he’s big and strong and he can run. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

“I recruited Justin, down in Georgia,” Daboll added. “That was the year that he came out with (Jacksonville quarterback) Trevor (Lawrence) and they were both top-notch quarterbacks coming out of high school. He was an impressive, impressive player. We went and watched him, had a chance to meet with him when he came up on a visit, his family. I have a lot of respect for him, I think he’s a very talented player, athletic, but he’s a good, young quarterback and I think he has a bright future.