EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants were back on the field Thursday for their second practice of training camp. Here’s everything you need to know about the session:
Attendance
Every player was on the practice field Thursday.
Injury report
Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor was on the field, but he didn’t participate after bruising his ribs in Wednesday’s practice. Eluemunor suffered the injury after getting hit in the midsection by 340-pound defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Other than feeling like he got “hit by a truck,” Eluemunor said he’s OK and doesn’t expect to miss much time.
Rookie safety Tyler Nubin worked on the side with trainers during practice. Nubin reportedly was held out of practice due to cramping on Wednesday.
Right tackle Evan Neal, who is on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list due to a lingering ankle injury, came out to the field an hour into practice. Neal was likely doing his rehab work inside the facility.
Tight end Theo Johnson (hip) and cornerback Aaron Robinson (knee), who are on the PUP list, and cornerback Stantley Thomas-Oliver (groin) and safety Jalen Mills (calf), who are on the non-football injury (NFI) list, worked on the side with trainers.
Observations
Get the ball to Nabers
It’s already obvious that first-round pick Malik Nabers is going to be a focal point of the offense. The Giants have gotten the ball to Nabers in a variety of ways in the first two practices of camp.
Nabers caught a short touchdown pass from Daniel Jones after beating cornerback Tre Hawkins on a slant route on Thursday. Nabers could have had another touchdown after again beating Hawkins, but Jones’ pass was behind the receiver, who failed to secure the catch.
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Nabers has gotten the ball on a reverse in each of the first two practices. He also made a catch on the slide route the Giants have used regularly the past two seasons, with a receiver running parallel to the line of scrimmage and catching a pass in the flat after a play-fake in the opposite direction. That was an exceptionally effective play for the Giants in 2022, and it could become more dynamic with the explosive Nabers getting the ball in space.
A rookie moment: Nabers was flagged for a false start in the red zone.
Early intensity
The first one-on-one matchups of camp took place Thursday. It was wide receivers vs. cornerbacks in the red zone on one end of the field, with tight ends vs. safeties and running backs vs. linebackers on the opposite end.
The intensity always picks up during one-on-ones. Slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson and slot cornerback Nick McCloud had a spirited battle.
McCloud forced an incompletion with extremely physical coverage on an in route and let Robinson know about it after the play. Robinson chirped back and they immediately lined up for a rematch.
Robinson won Round 2, drawing a holding penalty and still getting open to catch a touchdown pass from Jones. Robinson and McCloud jawed all the way back to the line of scrimmage.
Wan’Dale Robinson and Nick McCloud were jawing after McCloud forced an incompletion with very physical coverage. They got right up again for this rep. Wan’Dale channeling Sterling Shepard with the trash talk after dominating the rep pic.twitter.com/bYMM1IgqYx
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) July 25, 2024
Nabers beat cornerback Deonte Banks on both of their reps, although the coverage was tight. Jones made a perfect back shoulder pass on one of the connections.
Nabers 😮💨🔥 pic.twitter.com/WkQMJDvuZG
— New York Giants (@Giants) July 25, 2024
Shaking off the rust
Jones appeared less rusty in his second practice back from a torn ACL. His best pass was a deep touchdown to wide receiver Jalin Hyatt. He also fired a strike to tight end Lawrence Cager, who beat Banks on a slant.
Drew Lock had a rough day with the second-team offense. He was frequently holding the ball extensively as he tried to avoid pressure in the backfield. Tommy DeVito’s experience as a starter last season has helped him look sharp against the third-team defense.
Keep calm and call plays
Coach Brian Daboll hasn’t had any of the outbursts this offseason that were a near-daily occurrence in practices last year. Calling plays has helped keep Daboll engaged on the next play rather than dwelling on a mistake. He was offering words of encouragement to Jones throughout Thursday’s practice.
Daboll and quarterback coach Shea Tierney praised Jones for keeping the offense on track after he kept the ball on a scramble. Daboll also was fired up over a quick out from Jones to Robinson late in practice. There’s a clear coaching emphasis on Jones getting the ball out quicker and avoiding negative plays.
Playing to their strengths
The Giants have sprinkled in some four-wide receiver sets (10 personnel) during the first two days of camp. The Giants used that personnel grouping just six times over the previous two seasons. The Bills used 10 personnel on 80 snaps in Daboll’s final season as the team’s offensive coordinator, so it’s clearly a grouping he is comfortable using.
It makes sense for the Giants to use more 10 personnel this season since they have Nabers, Robinson, Hyatt and Darius Slayton at wide receiver and limited receiving talent at tight end.
O-line shuffle
Josh Ezeudu stepped in for Eluemunor (and Neal) at right tackle. Ezeudu had a quiet day, which is good news for a tackle.
Right guard Jon Runyan was one of five players snapping to quarterbacks before practice started. John Michael Schmitz, Austin Schlottmann and Jimmy Morrissey are the top three centers, while rookie guard Jake Kubas also snapped before practice.
Offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo spoke to former Giant Saquon Barkley about the value of Runyan’s “center flex” in a conversation at Penn State’s pro day that was captured on Hard Knocks. Schlottmann or Morrissey will make the team as the backup center, but Runyan will likely be the emergency third option.
Hard to figure
The defensive personnel deployment has been curious in the first two days of camp. It’s hard to tell if there are surprise contenders for starting roles or if some players are just on pitch counts.
Linebacker Dyontae Johnson has taken reps in place of Micah McFadden in both practices (Carter Coughlin also took some first-team reps Thursday). It wouldn’t be a shock if McFadden, who started 14 games last season, has to fight to keep his job.
However, it’s bizarre that Banks and Tre Hawkins have essentially alternated periods with the first-team defense. Banks’ spot as the top corner is secure, but he’s still only a second-year player, so he’d presumably benefit from as many reps as possible. Perhaps this is a way to give Hawkins a chance to push for the No. 2 corner spot without taking away reps from Cor’Dale Flott, who currently has that job.
Isaiah Simmons and Dru Phillips rotated in with McCloud as the first-team slot corner. McCloud surely will face competition for that role, with Phillips an obvious challenger after getting picked in the third round of this year’s draft.
Simmons is an intriguing option in the slot. With most of Thursday’s action taking place in the red zone, the 6-foot-4, 238-pounder’s coverage issues against slot receivers were mitigated. Simmons blew up a Devin Singletary run late in practice.
Notable youth
Rookie running Tyrone Tracy Jr. has been taking reps with the first-team offense. Poor ball security could limit those opportunities. Tracy, who didn’t have any fumbles last season at Purdue, was stripped by McFadden on a carry. Left guard Aaron Stinnie recovered the fumble.
Backup wide receiver Dennis Houston made an impressive touchdown catch on a pass from Lock, fully extending and keeping his feet inbounds after getting wide open in the back of the end zone.
Second-year safety Gervarrius Owens tallied a pair of pass breakups while playing on the second- and third-team defenses.
Play of the day
In a scene the Giants hope is repeated many times this fall, Jones uncorked a beautiful deep ball that Hyatt caught over cornerback Flott in the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown.
DJ DEEP TO HYATT pic.twitter.com/NOG0ObzRFA
— New York Giants (@Giants) July 25, 2024
Quote of the day
“I thought I was dead at one point. No, I’m just playing. It was painful, let’s just say that. I don’t really know how to diagnose injuries and stuff, but it just sucked. It wasn’t fun.” — Jermaine Eluemunor
Next up
The Giants will conduct their third training camp practice at 10 a.m. ET on Friday. The session is open to fans.
(Photo of Malik Nabers and Deonte Banks: Lucas Boland / USA Today)
