Giants training camp: What we learned on Day 9

Cam Skattebo injury, Andrew Thomas, Jaxson Dart, more highlights

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants held a spirited practice in front of a large, enthusiastic crowd at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday. There are only two open practices remaining in Giants training camp.

Let’s get to some of the things we learned.

Injury updates

The main concern right now, other than when left tackle Andrew Thomas will come off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, appears to be with rookie running back Cam Skattebo.

After leaving the last couple of practices early, Skattebo missed practice completely on Saturday. Head coach Brian Daboll would not specify Skattebo’s injury, but said he “had a little bit of [a] setback” on Friday and was considered “day-to-day.”

Of course, in Daboll-speak “day-to-day” could mean he will be back to practice this week and will play in the preseason opener next Saturday against the Buffalo Bills. Or, it could mean Skattebo doesn’t practice for the next couple of weeks. We’ll see.

Cornerback Cor’Dale Flott did not practice, and guard Greg Van Roten was absent for a third straight day as he awaits the birth of a child.

Also missing from practice were wide receiver Darius Slayton, edge defender Chauncey Golston, and defensive tackles D.J. Davidson and Jordon Riley.

Undrafted rookie wide receiver Beaux Collins worked on the side.

Thomas timetable

Speaking of Andrew Thomas, Daboll did not offer a target date for when the left tackle will come off the PUP list.

“Making progress, so he’s had some good days here,” Daboll said. “He’ll keep building them and when he’s ready to go, he’ll be out there, but I think he steadily improved. He feels a lot better, which is a good thing.

“As soon as he can be out there, he’ll be out there. You guys will see him out there. I’d say from week-to-week, he’s made continuous strides.”

Daily Dart

Mu unofficial charting had rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart 7 of 12 with a pair of touchdown passes. In his final 11-on-11 session, Dart went 5 of 6 with the incompletion being a drop by Devin Singletary. He tossed red zone touchdown passes to Zach Pascal and Jordan Bly. Bly made a sliding catch of a low throw for the score.

Dart threw this beautiful touchdown pass to Montrell Washington during 1-on-1 drills:

Pre-snap penalties

Pre-snap penalties — false start, offsides, delay of game — have been a feature of training camp for the Giants thus far. By my count, there were three on Saturday and Daboll resorted for a second straight day to pulling offenders off the field.

“We address them every day,” Daboll said. “Part of it is hearing the snap counts and staying onsides, part of it is the rhythm with the snap count, and part of it is staying onsides – the defensive linemen, particularly in situations where they think you’re throwing the ball and giving them a different cadence. We do it in walk-throughs, turn the music down and make sure we’re very vocal in it and just continue to practice it.”

Pre-snap penalties were an issue for the Giants last year, as evidenced here:

However Daboll addresses the issue, the Giants need to get the message.

Play of the day

This, in fact, might be the play of camp thus far.

That is a rather fortunate, unorthodox touchdown for Wan’Dale Robinson. That was Dru Phillips batting the ball up in the air.

1-on-1 drills

The wide receiver/cornerback one-on-one drills were held in front of assembled media on Saturday. Here are just a couple of quick notes:

• Lil’Jordan Humphrey used his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame for this spectacular catch against Tre Hawkins:

• Deonte Banks had a couple of rough reps. He committed a defensive holding penalty that could clearly be seen from across the field. He also got beaten deep by Malik Nabers.

Quote of the day

Giants’ right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor would not be unhappy to see Micah Parsons leave the Dallas Cowboys.

Field goal!

We saw placekickers Graham Gano and Jude McAtmney do some live kicking during practice. Both made all of the handful of kicks they attempted, out to what looked to be a maximum distance of about 50 yards.

“Schematic mastermind”

Inside linebacker Bobby Okereke seemed to struggle last season to find his place in the defense under new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. It was interesting on Saturday to hear Okereke call Bowen a “schematic mastermind.”

“As we’re going through these practices and we’re understanding his philosophical mind of how he wants guys to play defense and execute the techniques and fundamentals of each position we’re only getting better,” Okereke said.

Fun and games

The Giants ended practice with a spirited game of “Hit the Crossbar.” Each quarterback took turns trying to hit the crossbar from the 15-yard line. Jameis Winston was the only one of the four to accomplish the feat, earning his team the right to skip walk-thru’s later in the day. Rookie Jaxson Dart went last. He missed, disappointing teammates who were hoping to be able to skip meetings and take the rest of Saturday off. Tommy DeVito had the worst effort, barely even reaching the end line under the crossbar.

“I couldn’t believe it. I had faith — dude’s last name is Dart,” said cornerback Nic Jones. “I just knew he was gonna nail one. I had my faith in him.”

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Remaining open practices

Gates will open at 8:30 a.m. ET
All practices will begin at approx. 10 a.m. ET*

Monday, Aug. 4
Wednesday, Aug. 13 (Jets Joint Practice)

*Scheduled times subject to change. In the event of inclement weather, practice will be moved indoors and there will be no public viewing. For the most up-to-date information on training camp, visit Giants.com, @Giants on Twitter, the Giants App, or call the Training Camp Hotline at 201.935.8111 ext. 1070.