Giants CB Janoris Jenkins having ankle surgery, out for season

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. --Janoris Jenkins is the latest New York Giants player to land on injured reserve. He is undergoing surgery on Wednesday.

The left ankle has hindered Jenkins for roughly the past eight weeks, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter earlier this week, and it clearly has affected his play. The injury worsened after Jenkins aggravated it during an interception return for a touchdown on Thursday night against the Washington Redskins. It was his second interception in as many games.

Jenkins is the latest high-profile Giants player to land on injured reserve. He joins wide receiversOdell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall. Starting offensive linemen Weston Richburg and D.J. Fluker are also among the 18 players now on IR for the Giants (2-9), who are averaging 15.6 points per game this season.

To take Jenkins' place on the roster, the Giants signed defensive tackle Khyri Thornton. The Giants play the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Jenkins signed a five-year, $52.5 million deal last offseason. He made the Pro Bowl in his first year with the Giants.

His second season hasn't gone quite as well. Critics questioned Jenkins' effort after he was beaten for a touchdown and missed several tackles in a recent loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Jenkins deniedthe criticism, saying his performance wasn't the result of a lack of effort.

"Sometimes you aren't going to have the best game," Jenkins said. "Everybody knows that."

Jenkins, 29, was also suspended for a game earlier this season for a violation of team rules. He failed to return from the bye week on time and did not contact the team.

It has been that kind of year for the Giants, who will take the field Sunday in Oakland with a new-look lineup that doesn't feature Jenkins, a Pro Bowl cornerback, and quarterback Eli Manning. Geno Smith is expected to start at quarterback.

Jenkins has played in nine games this season. He had 31 tackles, nine passes defended and three interceptions.