lineup at tight end and make people forget Evan Engram.The 29-year-old Ellison is an old-time tight end. He's tough. He's physical. He catches the ball George Asafo-Adjei NFL Draft , runs hard and blocks as well.Engram is the more modern version of a tight end. The 23-year old can run like a receiver, break a game open with a catch and help out a little with his blocking, which is not his strongest suit.When the Giants (1-2) face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, Ellison is going to step in for Engram, who sprained his knee last weekend against Houston and is going to be sidelined for a couple of weeks."There's stuff that I can't do that Evan does," Ellison said Thursday before the Giants practiced. "For me, it's just trying to execute the plays and find my role in the play that's called, and try to make a play."Ellison had his best game of the season this past weekend, catching three passes for 39 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown, in a 27-22 win over the Texans.Odell Beckham Jr., who leads the Giants with 24 catches for 271 yards George Asafo-Adjei Buffalo Bills Jersey , said all the receivers are going to have to step up to replace Engram, who led the Giants in receiving last season."Rhett, we call him Mr. Consistent. I do, at least," Beckham said. "He always seems like he's in the right place at the right time, always making the plays, so everybody's got to step up."Ellison has spent a lot of time this week talking with Engram, who had 10 catches for 104 yards and a TD this season."A lot of people sleep on Rhett," Engram said. "He's definitely a teach-tape in the blocking game. The dude is a really good athlete and makes plays in the pass game too. So, no need to give him any speed. He was moving on some plays on Sunday, and I expect him to have a big game this weekend, and through the pass game. I know he's going to take care of his blocks in the run game."Giants coach Pat Shurmur worked with Ellison when both were with the Vikings."I'm fond of Rhett who he is as a player and as a person Infant Christopher Slayton Jersey ," Shurmur said. "He epitomizes a player that you want on your team. He's very good at what he does, he can line up anywhere, he finds a way to make plays. Some guys just have a knack for that. He finds a way to make plays. Very trustworthy and very tough, and he's wired like a football player, and that is what you're looking for."Shurmur even equated Ellison's toughness with that of Mark Bavaro, the outstanding tight end who was a member of the Giants' Super Bowl-winning teams after the 1986 and '90 seasons.The comparison was somewhat funny because Bavaro made a name for himself early in his career carrying a half-dozen San Francisco defenders on a 31-yard pass play in the '86 season."One of which was my dad," Ellison said, whose father Riki was a linebacker who played a decade in the NFL. "So, I'm sure my dad is not happy about this comparison."Ellison said he isn't approaching this game any differently than others in his seven-year career. He is spending time with backup tight ends Scott Simonson and rookie Garrett Dickerson to make sure they are up to speed. Engram is working with them, too."He definitely has been picking my brain a lot this year," Engram said of Ellison. "So have I with him in blocking and stuff. I have all the confidence in him. Like I said, I feel like I'm a vet sometimes when that happens. He's like the young kid asking me for help and stuff."NOTES: CB Eli Apple (hamstring) returned to practice on a limited basis. LB Olivier Vernon (ankle) was also limited. DT Damon Harrison (knee) Christopher Slayton Jersey Draft , RB Jonathan Stewart (knee) and WR Cody Latimer (knee) missed practice for the second straight day. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Janoris Jenkins is back with the New York Giants and ready to play against the Dallas Cowboys.A day after hastily walking off the field to deal with an undisclosed family emergency, Jenkins was back at practice Friday as the Giants (0-1) held their last major workout for the Sunday night game at Dallas (0-1).While Jenkins is ready to play, coach Pat Shurmur said weakside linebacker Olivier Vernon is going to miss his second straight game with an ankle injury. The Giants’ top pass rusher was on the field working with trainers this week and is making progress, the coach added.Shurmur asked the media to give Jenkins space with “a family issue.”Having Jenkins back is important. He is the team’s best pass defender and had an interception in the 20-15 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last weekend.Jenkins said everything was good with his family. He was not asked what the family problem was, nor did he discuss it when given a chance, adding he focused on football at practice.“Yeah, short-term memory,” Jenkins “In life things happen, just have to move forward and come back to work and pick up where I left off.”Jenkins has had to deal with a lot this offseason. His brother, William H. Jenkins, was charged with aggravated manslaughter days after the body of Roosevelt Rene was found in the football player’s Fair Lawn Christopher Slayton NFL Jersey , New Jersey home on June 26.The 29-year-old Jenkins did not think missing a day of practice would hurt his performance against the Cowboys.“Situation like that, some things happen, but no, not really,” Jenkins said. “Just come back and focus back on football and continue to go.”Safety Landon Collins said the players knew what was happening when Jenkins left the field Thursday.“Like we always say, we have family to take care of first, our brothers first and our family,” Collins said. “That is always going to come first.”In past years, Jenkins tended to cover star receiver Dez Bryant when the Giants played the Cowboys. Bryant was let go after last season, so the Cowboys now feature Cole Beasley, Allen Hurns, Terrance Williams and Deonte Thompson as the top wideouts.“Yeah Christopher Slayton NFL Draft , it looks weird,” Jenkins said. “We got to prepare the way we always prepare. Expect the unexpected and just play football. We understand that they got a good running game and they’re trying to pick it up in the passing game …”With Dallas using a lot of three-wideout formations, the Giants probably will be using extra defensive backs. B.W. Webb and Michael Thomas got most of the work at nickel back in the opener. If the defense wants more man-to-man coverage, Donte Deayon is probably the third-best coverage guy behind Jenkins and fellow cornerback Eli Apple.NOTES: LB Tae Davis is questionable for the game with a hamstring injury. He missed the season opener and was limited at practice Friday. … Shurmur plans to watch a little football Sunday before heading to the stadium. “I’m a football fan, so when there’s a game on I try to watch it, if I can stay awake.” … The Giants signed T Brian Mihalik to their practice squad and released LB Calvin Munson.