Giants’ quarterback Curtis Painter. Photo by ESPN.com

By Michael Eisen

Aug. 11, 2014

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants changed their quarterback rotation today in practice, but Tom Coughlin insisted nothing should be read into the switch.

Curtis Painter, who has been No. 3 since the team’s first spring practice, worked with the second team. Ryan Nassib, the second quarterback to play in each of the first two preseason games, lined up with the threes.

“They will work back and forth like that,” Coughlin said.

In the Giants’ two games, Nassib has thrown far more passes (33) than Eli Manning and Painter combined (19). He has completed 19 (57.6 percent) for 220 yards and a touchdown. Painter has completed all 10 of his throws for 94 yards and a touchdown (like Nassib’s, a game-winner to Corey Washington).

“He certainly did earn it, but I never put them in any kind of order for you and I won’t do it now, either,” Coughlin said. “They both have worked with the seconds, they both have worked with the threes and we will decide later in the week how we are going to play (against the Colts Saturday night in Indianapolis).”

Painter was Manning’s backup in 2013, when he played in three games and threw 16 passes. Nassib was inactive for all 16 games, though it was the first time since 2007 the Giants kept a third quarterback on their regular-season roster.

If Painter was excited about working with the second team, he did a great job of hiding it.

“Those kinds of decisions are for people elsewhere, the coaches and the management,” he said. “I’ve just got to take advantage of any reps I get, whether it is a one-on-one route with just me and the receiver or whether it be a team rep, or in a preseason game. Just taking advantage of any reps that I can get out there and we’ll go from there.”

It is hard to ignore a stat line that doesn’t have an incompletion after 10 throws. But Painter was typically quick to credit others for his fine play.

“Guys made some plays,” he said. “They got open and did great jobs running routes so, it makes it pretty easy in that respect. Even with that, there are a lot of things you can correct. You can always get better and we’ll work on that and work on our techniques and continue to get better from there.”

Painter is a five-year veteran who previously played for the Indianapolis Colts. He wasn’t worried when Nassib began working with the second team in the spring. Painter concedes that such a move might have bothered him earlier in his career.

“I think you get an understanding,” Painter said. “Everybody’s a team player here. You get that understanding from the top down. It seems like competition on the surface at every position, but we’re all working together to make this team better. Whatever way that may be – second, third, fourth, first string, whatever, we’re trying to make everybody else better. That’s what we’re really focused on.”

*Four wide receivers sat out practice day and another, Odell Beckham Jr., was limited to individual drills. Those missing the workout were Victor Cruz (knee), Jerrel Jernigan (knee), Trindon Holliday (hamstring) and Marcus Harris (hip). Coughlin said Cruz, Jernigan and Harris should practice tomorrow.

Beckham continues to increase his workload, but has not worked in a team practice period since early in camp.

“He did individual,” Coughlin said. “They said he did alright. Maybe they can extend it a little bit tomorrow, I hope.”

Also missing practice were fullback John Conner (concussion), tight end Xavier Grimble (hamstring), running back Peyton Hillis (ankle/foot), cornerback Jayron Hosley (foot), defensive tackle Mike Patterson (shoulder) and linebacker Jon Beason (foot-PUP).

*Tight end Daniel Fells, who suffered a bone bruise to his knee in the Hall of Fame Game last week, returned to the field for individual drills.

“I am hoping that Daniel Fells is better tomorrow and maybe we can get Xavier Grimble pretty quick,” Coughlin said. “He’s been out a long time for a rookie.”

*Washington took some first-team snaps and caught several passes, including a grab on a throw from Painter in which he leaped over cornerback Zack Bowman.

“That was a great catch,” Painter said. “He’s been doing that all practice, so it’s good to see a guy going up and getting it. He continues to make plays. He’s doing a great job, he’s taking advantage of some great opportunities and impressing some people. Hopefully, that continues. He’s a big target to throw it to, so that’s always nice.”

Coughlin said, “He has been one of those kids, you throw it up he goes and gets it.”