THOUSAND OAKS — They close practices to the public. They avoid talking about injuries. They cover their mouths on the sidelines. NFL coaches, in general, display a rather high level of paranoia.

Sometimes, though, the shield is lifted. Rams coach Sean McVay remains close with his former boss, Washington coach Jay Gruden, and as the Rams prepare for another game against an NFC East team – the New York Giants on the road Sunday – McVay might be leaning on his former mentor a bit.

McVay hinted in September that he and Gruden might compare notes about common opponents, and after Thursday’s practice at Cal Lutheran, McVay indicated it happened. The Rams play the Giants, Washington’s division rival, while Washington plays Seattle, a division foe of the Rams.

“Obviously I have a lot of respect for Jay,” McVay said. “He’s a close friend of mine. Now that we start to have some common opponents, (it helps) just being able to share with someone else that maybe has a different perspective, as opposed to maybe just inside the building.

“He’s such a great resource, to be able to have a close friend like that, most importantly, but also somebody you can confide in that might be outside the building.”

In a coincidence of NFL scheduling, the Rams hired McVay in the same year that they were slated to face all four NFC East teams: Philadelphia and Washington at home, and Dallas and the Giants on the road.

The Rams lost to Washington in the second week, but that left plenty of time, if desired, to share information. Of the Rams’ final 14 games, 11 are against teams that also play Washington this season.

McVay didn’t exactly mask this. On the Monday before the Washington game, McVay was asked about his upcoming communication with Gruden and said he was “looking forward to getting past this game.”

“Then,” McVay added, “we can kind of try to be able to help each other as we move forward into the regular season, getting deeper into it, especially playing the NFC East and some of the familiar opponents and some of the things that will cross over with them.”

So, has it worked? Perhaps. Washington beat San Francisco on Oct. 15, one month after the Rams beat the 49ers, and the Rams beat Dallas on the road on Oct. 1.

“It’s not like we’re sharing every secret or anything like that,” McVay said. “It’s just that you feel like you can talk football and not give anything away from a competitive-advantage standpoint. We still talked, even leading up to our game. It’s just that you don’t talk football.”

Then again, McVay doesn’t need to rely upon anyone for advice about NFC East teams. He spent seven seasons (2010-16) in that division as an assistant coach in Washington, and was the team’s primary play-caller in his last two seasons.

Last season, McVay’s offense scored 29 points against the Giants in a September victory, but then was held under 300 yards in a season-ending 19-10 loss.

“They’re doing some different things,” McVay said of the Giants’ defense, “but there still is a similar foundation, in terms of how they want to operate. But any time you have a history against a specific team or a specific coordinator, you want to draw from those experiences and make sure you’re aware of them. But you also want to realize that good coaches evolve and adapt in each year.”

FAMILIAR FOE

Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who has coached in the NFL since 1976, reminded reporters that he was on the New Orleans staff when Archie Manning played for the Saints in 1981 and 1982, and that he also was the defensive coordinator in Denver when Archie’s son, Peyton, ended his career.

“And Eli was with us in San Diego for about two minutes,” Phillips deadpanned.

Phillips was coordinator with the Chargers when they drafted Eli Manning but quickly traded his rights to the Giants, and since then, Manning has won two Super Bowls.

The Giants have struggled to a 1-6 record this season and are without two of their top receiver targets in Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall, but Phillips said he still has strong respect for the New York offense, in large part because of Manning.

“The talent is there, and plus he’s more experienced now,” Phillips said. “He knows what coverage you’re in, even if you disguise things. He knows when you’re blitzing. He’s a complete quarterback. He wouldn’t have the rings and championships he’s had without being a great player.”

INJURY REPORT

The Rams had only one injured player on their daily report, as safety Cody Davis continues to be out with a thigh injury. Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold also missed practice, but apparently just for a rest day.

Rookie receiver Josh Reynolds, who had been out because of concussion symptoms, made a full return to practice, as did linebackers Mark Barron and Connor Barwin and offensive linemen John Sullivan and Andrew Whitworth, who received rest days on Wednesday.

HIGH HONOR

Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein was named the NFC’s special teams player of the month for October, when he set a franchise record with 14 field goals (with only one missed attempt).