THE STORYLINE:
Can you feel it? The rise of hope and optimism because the New York Football Giants are no longer shackled to the uninspiring and disappointingly untalented Daniel Jones.
Is it unfair to pin all of the team’s ills for the past six years on Jones and make him a bogeyman? Definitely. But the heart of any modern-day football team is the combination of the head coach and starting quarterback, and simply put, Daniel Jones isn’t a starting-caliber NFL quarterback. Just as damning, he was bland and milquetoast. Eli Manning could pull it off because he had talent and was funny behind the scenes. Jones is bad and boring. Bad combination for any field general.
So the Giants have finally turned the page. What’s next? The team drafted Jaxson Dart in their second major attempt to address the position since Eli Manning retired. Jaxson will play against the Buffalo Bills. So begins the often-painful growing process for a rookie quarterback. Everything will not be smooth. There will be mistakes, including interceptions. This isn’t a video game and growth isn’t always linear. If you accept those facts going into this game, this preseason, and this regular season, you’ll be able to emotionally handle better the ups and downs as a fan. Some patience is required.
The Bills have said they will play many of their starters outside of quarterback Josh Allen. Brian Daboll has been more vague and the speculation among reporters is that most – if not all – of the team’s starters will sit. Guys like Malik Nabers, Dexter Lawrence, and Brian Burns won’t play. Four back-up cornerbacks sat out of Thursday’s practice so depth in the team’s secondary may look far more suspect than it really is. All in all, this game probably should be viewed more like a glorified scrimmage. Relax. Next week’s practices and preseason game against the New York Jets will be more telling.
THE INJURY REPORT:
Andrew Thomas, Victor Dimukeje, and Eric Gray remain on the PUP.
Not practicing on Thursday were WR Malik Nabers (toe?), RB Cam Skattebo (hamstring), WR Darius Slayton (unknown), OG Evan Neal (unknown), OLB Brian Burns (unknow), ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (unknown), CB Cor’Dale Flott (unknown), CB Tre Hawkins (unknown), CB Art Green (unknown), and CB Korie Black (groin).
NEW YORK GIANTS ON OFFENSE:
Not counting the quarterback position and other than Cam Skattebo (who is out), there were really no major additions to an offensive team that was a train wreck in 2024. It’s going to be interesting to watch the results.
The assumption by many is that starting quarterback Russell Wilson will not play against the Buffalo Bills. We’ll see if the Giants surprise us with a series or two with the starters. Wilson wants to play. Brian Daboll has said Jaxson Dart will definitely play, but how much remains to be seen. Personally, I’d play him at least a half. The more he gets the mistakes out of his system now, the better. I assume that we’ll see Tommy DeVito quite a bit this preseason, but I’d use him in the second half when the back-ups to the back-ups are in the game.
With Cam Skattebo and Eric Gray out, and the Giants not likely to want to give many snaps to Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary, the team is pretty thin at running back going into this game. Expect a heavy dose of Dante Miller and possibly recently-signed camp body Jonathan Ward. To be blunt, you won’t see the team’s real running game on Saturday with the top three backs out.
Same story at wide receiver. Malik Nabers is going to nurse a toe issue all season again, and it makes little sense for him to play in this game. Darius Slayton is hurt and won’t play. Wan’Dale Robinson probably will sit out. For a team that already has talent question marks at the position, the absence of the top three players also may make for a tough watch. That said, this is a great opportunity for guys like Jalin Hyatt, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Montrell Washington, Dalen Cambre, Beaux Collins, Jordan Bly, Da’Quan Felton, Antwane Wells, and Gunner Olszewski. It’s a make-or-break season for Hyatt. Others like Washington, Collins (who missed the week with an injury), and Cambre have flashed in camp. Big opportunity here for all.
The Giants have five interesting tight ends. Theo Johnson is the undisputed starter and may not play. Daniel Bellinger is currently listed second on the unofficial depth chart. Chris Manhertz is the veteran blocker and may also not play. Good chance for Greg Dulcich and Thomas Fidone (if he plays, coming off a concussion) to impress and make a statement.
Many fans will understandably be watching the offensive line. Andrew Thomas is obviously out. We’ll get our first live look at James Hudson at left tackle. I’m not sure we’ll see too much – if any – of Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz, Greg Van Roten, and Jermaine Eluemunor. Expect more of Evan Neal (if he plays, he was unbelievably out of practice on Thursday), Aaron Stinnie, Jake Kubas, and Byron Hudson at guard; Austin Schlottmann and Jimmy Morrissey at center; and Hudson, Marcus Mbow, Joshua Ezeudu, and Stone Forsythe at tackle. The guys to watch are really Hudson, Mbow, and Neal. I’ll also be curious to see Kubas and Ezeudu.
NEW YORK GIANTS ON DEFENSE:
The team’s two best proven defenders – Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns – will not likely play. We may not see much of Kayvon Thibodeaux, Paulson Adebo, Jevon Holland, Tyler Nubin, Bobby Okereke, and Micah McFadden. Chauncey Golston is hurt. Deonte Banks probably needs the work and could play. I’m not sure we’ll see Andru Phillips. Long story short, the unit that is supposedly the strength of the team may be absent almost all of its top talent.
I’m going to warn you now, the secondary isn’t going to look good. The team’s top FOUR reserves on their depth chart at cornerback – Cor’Dale Flott, Tre Hawkins, Art Green, and Korie Black – are all hurt and probably won’t play. So the corners who will be playing in this game – guys highly unlikely to be on the 53-man roster – will receive the bulk of the snaps. We’re talking Nic Jones, Dee Williams, O’Donnell Fortune, and T.J. Moore. I can already hear it now, “The Giants depth at corner is terrible!” Use your head and recognize who is on the field. If a Bills’ starting wideout or top back-up wide receiver beats Dee Williams, understand it for what it is.
So is there anything to watch here? Yes. First and foremost, Abdul Carter should play some. All eyes will be on him. There are also big question marks on the defensive line after Dexter Lawrence. I’m not sure we’ll see much of older veterans such as Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Roy Robertson-Harris, but we should see quite a bit of Elijah Chatman, Darius Alexander, D.J. Davidson, Jordon Riley, Jeremiah Ledbetter, Elijah Garcia, and Cory Durden. The rookie 3rd rounder Alexander is sure to gain a lot of attention.
With Burns, Golston, Dimukeje, and possibly Thibodeaux out, the outside linebacker/edge position will be undermanned other than Carter. Expect a very heavy dose of two guys who will likely not make the 53-man roster: Tomon Fox and Trace Ford.
Assuming Okereke and McFadden are out and don’t play much, there is decent depth behind these two with Darius Muasau, Chris Board, and Dyontae Johnson. Also because Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles is hurt and Ty Summers was let go, newly-re-signed K.J. Cloyd will play. He was a preseason star last year for the Giants.
The Giants are set with their top three at safety – Holland, Nubin, and Dane Belton. But there is an opening for that fourth spot with Raheem Layne, K’Von Wallace, and Makari Paige the contenders.
NEW YORK GIANTS ON SPECIAL TEAMS:
The Giants are sticking with Graham Gano and Jamie Gillan. Ihmir Smith-Marsette is listed as the top punt and kick returner on the depth chart. Kick/punt coverage in the preseason is often messy with teams trying out new players in new positions. Two guys who were supposed to be contributors will be out (Korie Black and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles). Keep an eye on special teams stud Chris Board.
THE FINAL WORD:
If you take away anything from this preview, please understand who is on the field and who is likely and not likely to make the 53-man roster. This is especially true of a number of positions, in particular at cornerback, wide receiver, and running back. There will be players to watch, but for the most part, the main cogs will be absent. Focus on Dart, Carter, Alexander, and the offensive line.