#Ryan Connelly fighting to take back starting Giants job

Ryan Connelly learned this lesson in late March, when his rehabilitation regime was halted. His preference was to get his right knee healed at the Giants’ team facility, working with the doctors and trainers he grew to know and trust.

Here is another thing: Preferences and pandemics do not mix, either.

“Once the Giants and the NFL determined it wasn’t safe for us to be in the facilities, the Giants did a great job of helping me out and finding accommodations for me back home in Minnesota,’’ Connelly, a Giants linebacker entering his second NFL season, told The Post.

Just like that, it was back to the Connelly household in Eden Prairie, where the Connelly boys staged an impromptu reunion. For the first time in a few years, Ryan, his older brother Shane and younger brother Kyle were together under one roof, along with their parents, Christi and Steve.

Ryan, cousin of Islanders captain Anders Lee, was able to continue to gain strength in his surgically repaired knee. Though the separation from the Giants could have been isolating, Connelly found it rejuvenating, in a sense.

“It was a nice breath of fresh air to be back with family, especially during these tough times,’’ he said. “I think it was definitely a blessing in disguise. I know my parents really enjoyed having us all back and one big family again.’’

Kevin Sherrer, the new inside linebackers coach, liked what he saw from Connelly when training camp opened up.

“The training staff did a good job of getting him back in time,’’ Sherrer said.

Now comes another challenge for Connelly: regaining what once was his.

Connelly, a precocious fifth-round draft pick from Wisconsin, rose up the depth chart as a rookie, as it took the previous coaching regime only one game before inserting him into the starting lineup, replacing Tae Davis. Connelly, working inside with Alec Ogletree, came up with interceptions in two of his three starts before the promise of his debut season came to a crashing end. Connelly went down with a torn ACL in a Week 4 victory over the Redskins.

To regain his place with the first-team defense, Connelly is going to have to show he is completely healthy then impress an entirely new group of coaches. He is moving well in individual drills and full-team work but was held out of Friday’s first intrasquad scrimmage.

Blake Martinez was signed to run the defense from one of the inside linebacker spots. The other starting job is up for grabs — with Connelly, David Mayo (a strong run-stopper) and Devante Downs (seven games on special teams in 2019) in the mix.

“Everything has to be earned, and I’m just trying learn the scheme one day at a time and see how I fit with that and how I can play fast within it,’’ Connelly said. “Everything else will take care of itself.’’

A Martinez-Connelly pairing would be a heady duo. Connelly was a quick study as a rookie and got his signal-calling baptism by fire when, in his first NFL start, those duties were thrust upon him when Ogletree got hurt. With Martinez and Connelly side by side, the Giants would be set, as far as brainpower in the guts of their defense.

“It’s always nice to have a knowledgeable ’backer in the room,’’ Connelly said of Martinez. “All the guys are. It’s nice to kind of bounce ideas off of everyone as well as learn from others’ past experiences, too.’’

Staying away was never a consideration, Connelly said. His mother is a lung cancer survivor and in the past few years underwent chemotherapy and radiation. This puts her in an at-risk group in a world where the coronavirus is present.

“No, none at all,’’ Connelly said, when asked if he thought about opting out of the season. “Just because I wouldn’t be at home with her, I’d be out [in New Jersey].’’

Connelly knows what this means. His parents unfailingly made the four-hour ride from Eden Prairie to Madison for his college games and made sure to see him play for the Giants. That is not in the cards this season.

His mother, he said, is “doing well.’’ Still, travel is not really an option.

“Most likely not,’’ he said. “It’s always hard leaving home — I mean, it’s home. I know I’ll see them in January or February so I’m not too worried about it.’’

It is not as if Connelly is going it alone.

“Obviously it’s been a while since we’ve seen everybody’s faces, that’s a little different with the masks and everything,’’ he said of his teammates. “It’s cool to be back with the team.’’