New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney has not exactly had a desirable start to his rookie career.

McKinney began his rookie campaign with rookie minicamps shut down, the offseason cut short and no preseason. Then, to make matters worse, he sustained a fracture in his left foot in August causing him to miss the first 11 weeks of the season.

In Week 12, the second-round pick finally got healthy but he only ended up playing five total snaps, recording one tackle. Playing only six snaps in his next outing, things looked bleak for the rookie as he seemed buried in the depth chart behind the top three safeties — Logan Ryan, Jabrill Peppers and Julian Love.

However, over these past three weeks, the Alabama product has earned himself a more pronounced role, even playing in 68% of snaps in Week 16 against Baltimore.

The rookie now has boosted his total tackles to 17 (10 solo) but has yet to record a pass defended, a tackle for loss or an interception. In other words, he has yet to make his first big play. But this is not something that the 22-year-old safety is worried about.

“As far as making that play, I know it will come. I’m not trying to force anything. Just trying to make sure I do my job and make sure I execute for the team,” McKinney told reporters this week.

McKinney is instead worried about playing within his role and helping his team in any way he can. An important task, especially this week, as the Giants are in a must-win scenario against the division rival Dallas Cowboys.

It would be nice for McKinney’s first highlight-reel play to come in such an important game but for now, he is focused on being prepared and allowing such things to come naturally.