Giants will have Leonard Williams back in fold for key test vs. Ravens

There is no one on the Giants’ roster who would question Leonard Williams if the veteran defensive lineman were to speak up about something he did not like or appreciate about what was going down with the team.

Check that. There is one player who would feel a bit uncomfortable if at any time in the past three weeks Williams voiced his opinion for all to hear:

Leonard Williams.

Imagine that. One of the top performers on the roster, affectionately called Big Cat, admitted that being on the outside looking in, missing the past three games, made him wonder what his teammates would think if he offered a suggestion or some advice, given that he was not out there battling with them.

This was not only because Williams, after playing 114 consecutive games since he was drafted by the Jets in 2015, was unavailable to his team for the first time in his eight-year NFL career. It was also that the Giants were winning without him that made Williams question whether he was part of the success or merely a bystander.

“It’s definitely been weird, being on the sideline, being in the background,’’ Williams told The Post. “I’m still a captain on the team, still try to participate and be involved as much as possible and help out when I can. At the same time there’s a lot of stuff happening that you don’t really get to help. It’s been awesome seeing them win.’’

Seeing “them’’ win? Williams is as much a part of this resurgent Giants team as anyone and is one of a handful of players on the roster who can make a difference every time he steps onto the field. Yet he is wholly unaccustomed to winning — the Giants were 12-29 in Williams’ first 41 games with the team since he was acquired midway through the 2019 season.

Williams went down with a sprained knee as the Giants beat the Panthers to move to 2-0 under first-year head coach Brian Daboll, and the Giants lost their first game without Williams, on “Monday Night Football,’’ to the Cowboys. With Williams cheering from the sideline, the Giants beat the Bears at home, then shocked the Packers in London.

Williams is listed as questionable, but he is ready to return and is expected to start Sunday against the Ravens at MetLife Stadium. That is quite a relief for him. He was concerned that those around him thought less of him because he was outside the fray, as opposed to in the scrum with them.

“That’s kind of how it felt. I’m not sure if that’s actually the consensus or whatever,’’ Williams said. “Just personally, because I’m the type of guy that focuses on working hard and prides myself on being a durable player and being out there for my guys. I get in my own head that since I’m not doing nothing I can’t say nothing sometimes.’’

Pardon Williams for not exactly knowing how to react to what is going on with the Giants. That takes getting used to for everyone who was part of the franchise-toppling losing of the past five years. The Giants are 4-1 and, though it is too early for any team to be listed as “in the hunt,” it is not too early to note that it is the middle of October and the Giants are far more than relevant.

They are intriguing. They are fun. They are tied for 19th in the NFL in scoring at 20.6 points a game and ninth in the league in scoring defense, allowing 18.6 points. Their four wins have come by one, three, eight and five points. Their one loss was by seven points.

When the schedule came out in April, seeing “Ravens at Giants’’ triggered notions of the haves and have nots. From the 2017-21 seasons, the Ravens won 52 games. In that same span, the Giants won 22.

It is Week 6, the Giants are no longer also-rans. Their defense, led by blitzing mastermind Wink Martindale — who was with the Ravens the past decade — might actually have a plan that works against Lamar Jackson, the league’s most lethal dual threat at quarterback. Daboll and his offensive coordinator, Mike Kafka, have navigated around ridiculously poor production from their wide receivers by leaning on Saquon Barkley — the NFL rushing leader — and extricating tough play from Daniel Jones by utilizing his legs and smarts.

With Williams out of the action, linemate Dexter Lawrence picked up his game, leading the Giants in sacks (three) and quarterback hits (eight). Having Williams back at his side should make football life easier for Lawrence. Being back where he belongs assuredly will help soothe Williams’ psyche.

“I just hope I can come back and just help us be that much better,’’ Williams said. “It definitely helps that they were winning while I was away.’’