EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Rookie cornerback Eli Apple is willing to chalk up Sunday’s sub-par performance against the Philadelphia Eagles as a rookie learning experience. So are the New York Giants.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said Apple’s role “won’t change” on Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. That means Apple probably will be back outside as the starting cornerback opposite Janoris Jenkins. He started last week in the Giants base defense against the Eagles before being replaced for the most of the second half after struggling badly.

Veteran Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was primarily the slot cornerback.

“I will tell you this, I’m a big Eli Apple fan. I said that from the beginning,” Spagnuolo said. “He’s going to help us win football games. He has.”

Rookie Eli Apple didn't blink over last week's mid-game benching and apparently will be back in the lineup on Sunday. Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire

The Giants are heavily invested in Apple. And for good reason. He was the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft.

As they try to get him back on track, Spagnuolo chose his words carefully when describing what happened Sunday against the Eagles.

“I wouldn’t even call it a benching,” Spanguolo said. “He was struggling a little bit. We went over and said, ‘Look, let’s just take a series off and see what happens.' Then our guys kind of got in a groove and we just left it like that. ... Nobody has lost confidence in Eli. He’s a good football player. He’ll bounce back.”

The Giants insist Apple has rebounded with a strong week of practice. The first-round pick was thrown right back into the mix and hasn’t shown signs that being taken out of Sunday's game will affect him moving forward.

“Honestly, I don’t see anything different with Eli,” coach Ben McAdoo said. “He’s come out, gone about his business and been productive on the practice field.”

In the NFL, these kinds of games happen, especially for rookies and with cornerbacks. It’s a position where it’s difficult to succeed early. Tampa Bay's Vernon Hargreaves III has struggled at times his rookie season after being the 11th overall pick, especially against the Raiders.

Apple's trouble may be attributable to his health problems. He has been trying to get back in the groove. He missed time first with a hamstring injury then with a groin problem. He was finally close to 100 percent against the Los Angeles Rams in London but then came the bye week.

Spagnuolo thinks this might have affected his performance.

“He hasn’t built the callouses to get through a season like this,” Spagnuolo said. “He’s struggled a little bit with that. He’s going to be fine.”

Apple is a smooth and unassuming personality. He generally doesn't seem to allow criticism or praise to affect him much either way. Apple handled last week’s controversy involving his mother’s criticism of his employer with impressive poise.

The benching has been similar.

“You want to get back to the basics, to the fundamentals that got you here,” Apple said of how he has handled the poor performance. “You want to lean on your teammates because they’re going to give you the real talk that you need. So that’s what I’ve been doing.

“Pick my head up a little bit and play with the confidence I played with in college. Be more comfortable. That is the main thing.”

Apple insists the comfort isn’t there because his rookie season hasn’t gone smoothly because of injuries. He’s learning to play in the NFL in staccato style.

“You have to be in your groove,” Apple said.

He’ll have another chance to get there on Monday night.