Back with the team after serving a one-game suspension, Redskins cornerback Chris Culliver will be asked to contain Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Thursday.
Washington Redskins cornerback Chris Culliver had to watch from afar as his teammates wore down the St. Louis Rams last Sunday for a 24-10 victory at FedExField.
Culliver, who was serving a one-game suspension, was not completely out of tune from what was going on, though, as he sent positive messages to them during their week of preparation.
"Just wanting to be out there with my fellow mates and play ball with them," Culliver said Monday afternoon. "It's kind of hard just to watch, but I [was] encouraging and texting the guys, 'Do your thing,' and things like that, helping guys out anyway I can. Being positive and just brining that energy to my secondary, to my team and was glad to come out with a W."
The defense once again was particularly stout against the run, but that's not to say the secondary didn't have a major hand in holding the Rams' offense to just 10 points.
Rams quarterback Nick Foles, who was 18-for-27 for 297 yards and a touchdown in the Rams' Opening Day victory over the Seattle Seahawks, struggled against the Redskins, outside of a 40-yard touchdown connection with wide receiver Kenny Britt.
He went just 17-for-32 for 150 yards against Washington, failing to find openings down the field and being forced to dump off the ball quickly, often resulting in inaccurate throws.
Entering Thursday's primetime game against the New York Giants, it will mark the first time the Redskins will have their top three cornerbacks – DeAngelo Hall, Bashaud Breeland and Culliver – in a regular season game this season.
Culliver and Hall got the start in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins while Breeland was serving his own one-game suspension.
"Getting everybody back together [will be important]," Culliver said. "We haven't been totally healthy and people coming back and with other things going on. We're glad to be putting it together and have everybody back on the field together and will have a good time."
The Giants aerial attack is led, of course, by veteran quarterback Eli Manning.
Manning has gotten off to a solid start, completing 47 passes for 485 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for an 89 quarterback rating.
He'll certainly be looking Odell Beckham Jr.'s way after the two connected seven times for 146 yards and a touchdown on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
It will be Culliver's job to stop the skilled second-year receiver who earned a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie.
"I think every week is a challenge," Culliver said. "New York has a good group of receivers. Good quarterback, good running game. We definitely want to step up to the challenge and come compete."
RELATED LINKS:
-- Chris Culliver Named To Sports Illustrated's All-Underrated Team
-- Breeland Ready To Be Thrown Right In
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