EAST RUTHERFORD Darian Thompson Color Rush Jersey , N.J. (AP) —the preseason, it seemed linebacker 0livier Vernon was going to have a monster season in coordinator James Bettcher's new 3-4 defensive scheme.Every time the ball was snapped Vernon disrupted plays. He stopped runs and got sacks and pressures on opposing quarterbacks.A couple of days before the preseason finale against New England, Vernon suffered a high sprain to his left ankle, and his season has turned into a major disappointment. The seven-year veteran missed the first five regular-season games and didn't return to action until a start against the Eagles on Nov. 11. The Giants were 1-4 at that point and things only got worse as New York dropped the next three games heading into its bye.While Vernon played well against the Eagles, he has not done much statistically this season. He has one sack, 10 tackles and six quarterback hits in six games. Against Tampa Bay on Nov. 18, he was flagged for three penalties in a span of one snap: two neutral zone violations and a roughing the passer.It's not what is expected of a player making $17 million this season, the second-highest salary on the team."You work hard before every season coming up and it's just one little bump in the road, and all I can do right now is just the normal game plan, be out there for my team and make the plays that come to me," Vernon said Friday after the Giants (3-8) practiced for Sunday's game against the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears (8-3).Vernon insists he is 100 percent healthy, although he said getting back into football shape has taken time. He was able to do some cardio work while hurt Doug Kotar Color Rush Jersey , but it took time to get his legs back.The Giants have missed him in the pass rush. They have 14 sacks this season, second lowest in the league. Vernon's one sack is on pace to be a career low. He had 3 1/2 in his rookie season of 2012 with Miami. In his previous two seasons with the Giants he had 15, including 6 ½ last year despite missing four games with another ankle injury."He's just like every player on our team," coach Pat Shurmur said. "Just keep battling, keep playing to make a difference. He can be a disruptive force, we all know that."Shurmur said Vernon has been making plays. He is just not getting the sacks.Vernon notes that Sunday will be a test because the Bears are playing well. They are not making mistakes and are forcing turnovers. They even won last week with veteran quarterback Chase Daniel starting for Mitchell Trubisky, who was sidelined with a shoulder injury.Trubisky was limited at practice this week and is doubtful for Sunday. Daniel is expected to start at MetLife Stadium."One thing is you just have to get back there, you have to make him feel the pressure and kind of force them into making errors," Vernon said. "We know he can make plays with his arm, and he can also make plays with his feet as well. They have a lot of fast, skilled guys out there that just can make plays when it's needed."If Vernon does not start making big plays, the Giants might consider releasing him. He signed a five-year Curtis Riley Color Rush Jersey , $85 million contract in 2016 with $52 million guaranteed. He will carry a cap hit of $19.5 million in each of his final two seasons."Right now I'm focusing on the Bears and whatever happens, happens," he said. "All I can do is focus on what I have to do."NOTES: TE Evan Engram (hamstring) and LB B.J. Goodson (neck) have been ruled out for Sunday's game. Rookie LB Lorenzo Carter (hip) is questionable. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — While the win total has increased slightly after a fiasco of a 2017 season, Pat Shurmur sees good things on the horizon for the New York Giants.That's provided the Giants (5-10) learn how to finish games.It's been one of their major weaknesses this season and they head into the final week of a fruitless season coming off another late-game collapse in a 28-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. It was the third time this season Shurmur has seen the Giants lose a road game when the opposition scored the deciding points in the final minute. Seven of their losses have been by seven points or less."We've won some games, but we haven't won enough, and so that's the growth that has to take place, and for those of us that aren't very patient, it's a painful process until we get to that point where we're winning all of these games at the end – not just a few of them, but all of them," Shurmur said Monday, a day after the Giants squandered an early 14-0 lead."We all know that it comes down to a drive or two at the end or the critical plays at the end of a game Calvin Munson Color Rush Jersey ," he added. "There's things that we're doing that are good enough, but right is right. We've got to do it throughout the game and we've got to win them."Looking back, this has been a turnaround year. The roster has fewer than 15 players left over from last year's 3-13 season. While Eli Manning has remained the quarterback, the offense has changed and has added dynamic rookie halfback Saquon Barkley to a group of playmakers that include wideouts Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard and the suddenly revitalized and healthy Evan Engram at tight end.The defense has shown flashes. The takeaways have picked up, but the run defense and finding ways to close out games have faltered too much."You've got to go out and take these wins, nobody gives you anything," Shurmur said. "So when you get to the position like we were at the end of this game, it's safe to say we've been in a handful of these this season where we've won a couple and then we've let a couple get away from us. But nothing's given to you in this league, you've got to go take it."Shurmur refused to say his team needed better players, insisting he liked the group he has now.However, a few more players will help.The Giants, who have made the playoffs once since 2011 Michael Strahan Color Rush Jersey , are close to be a contender, Shurmur said."I think as we start building and as the players get better, as we improve, as we understand situations and how to play each situation better, then eventually this thing pushes over the top," Shurmur said of his first season in charge. "So I would agree with their assessment."NOTES: Shurmur said some of his injured players are close to returning for the Dallas game on Sunday. He did not mention Beckham, who has missed the last three games with a quadriceps injury. … The players had a short day Monday and will be off Tuesday for Christmas. The coaches will have Tuesday morning off but will be back in the afternoon to work on the Cowboys. … Manning will start Sunday at MetLife Stadium. … The game has little meaning since the Cowboys won the NFC East and will have a wild-card game at home.