EAST RUTHERFORD -- Ben McAdoo declined to discuss how Shane Vereen's return would alter the Giants' running back rotation on Friday, calling it "a hypothetical right now."

Well, it's no longer that. The Giants activated Vereen from injured reserve on Saturday, a day shy of 11 weeks after he tore his triceps in a Week 3 loss to the Redskins. He will be back in the lineup Sunday night against the Cowboys.

The Giants will likely ease Vereen back in, and they will still utilize veteran Rashad Jennings and rookie Paul Perkins. But there is a case to be made for using Vereen as their featured back down the stretch.

Here are some quick thoughts now that Vereen's activation is official:

This should help Eli Manning. Jennings has made some plays in the passing game this year, but he cannot match the threat Vereen presents to defenses out of the backfield. Opposing teams have to account for Vereen now, especially on third down. He will also be a short-pass safety blanket for Manning - something he has not really had with the tight ends recently.

Don't sleep on Vereen as a rusher. Before he was injured, Vereen was averaging 4.7 yards-per-carry. The Giants are averaging 3.5 as a team this season. Vereen was instrumental to the Giants' game-winning drive in the season opener against the Cowboys, rushing three times for 21 yards on that series.

Vereen was also en route to a career game against the Redskins before getting hurt (and before Ben McAdoo abandoned the run). Vereen had six runs of nine or more yards before he was injured, including runs of 25, 15 and 14 yards. A seventh was negated by a hold.

The Giants have just 22 runs of 10-plus yards this season, which is the third-fewest in the NFL according to Sporting Charts. They are ranked 31st in rushing offense.

The fumbles. Yes, Vereen lost two fumbles before his injury. But he only fumbled three times in his first five seasons in the NFL. It's something to watch, but fumbles should not be a major concern at this point.

The argument to be featured. When it comes to the Jennings vs. Perkins debate, things tend to revolve around Jennings' strength in pass protection, Perkins' elusiveness and ability to make something out of nothing, and what should win out.

In a way, Vereen gives the Giants all of that. He can pass protect, he can be a weapon out of the backfield in the passing game, and he's shown an ability to bring the shiftiness they may need to get the most of out of the questionable blocking up front. Durability would be a concern, as would the fact Vereen is in his sixth season in the league, but still has yet to consistently produce as a rusher.

It's an outside-the-box idea, but the Giants clearly have yet to make things work in the run game. There's a strong argument to be made they were at the best in that department when leaning on Vereen earlier in the year.

Note: Vereen and Jennings have played in two games together this year. Jennings had 18 carries to Vereen's six in Week 1, but Vereen received 14 to Jennings' 13 in Week 2, and he got 10 in the second half against the Saints to Jennings' three.

James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.