Deonte Banks called out by Giants' defense for taking play off

The Giants’ defensive veterans were none too pleased with the lack of effort from second-year cornerback Deonte Banks when he glided to the sideline with a chance to tackle Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts on Sunday, and they’ve called him out over it.

Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence said he told Banks that is “not acceptable” during a defensive meeting earlier this week. “He knows it, we addressed it, and that’s that,” Lawrence said. “We don’t accept that as a defense and he knows that . . . You won’t see anything like that again.”

Added linebacker Brian Burns, who also spoke to Banks about the play: “You just encourage him, remind him who he is and that’s not what we do. Keep his head up.”

Banks was chasing Hurts toward the sideline on the first play of the fourth quarter, but instead of pursuing him fully, he eased up. Defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson was irate at Banks as Hurts ran for 16 yards on third-and-7. Banks told reporters he thought he had a chance to tackle Hurts. He just inexplicably didn’t.

Coach Brian Daboll didn’t say whether there would be consequences in terms of starting on Monday night in Pittsburgh, but the Giants’ secondary already is banged up — cornerbacks Adoree’ Jackson (neck), Cor’Dale Flott (groin) and Tre Hawkins (ankle) did not practice on Thursday — so they may need Banks despite the glaring football faux pas.

“Obviously, we want maximum effort on every play,” Daboll said on Monday. “We’ve addressed that, we’ll continue to address it and we’ll make sure it’s better.”

Notes & quotes: Daboll indicated the Giants are leaning toward starting Josh Ezeudu at left tackle for the second straight game in place of injured Andrew Thomas but kept other options open, including Chris Hubbard. He was signed off the 49ers’ practice squad last week . . . The Giants had left tackle D.J. Humphries in for a free-agent visit this week but have not signed him.  “We think he’s a good football player,” Daboll said. “We had a good visit with him, so we’ll see where that goes.”  He is coming back from an ACL tear . . . John Mara said he does not expect to make any changes during or after this season at general manager or coach. Said Daboll of that vote of confidence: “Nobody’s happy about the results or the record, but the communication and the process and the people, I believe in them.”