EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants kicked off their summer break with a light practice on Wednesday.
With coach Brian Daboll placing a premium on health, the Giants were on the field for just 58 minutes during their second mandatory minicamp practice of the spring. Teams are allowed to conduct three minicamp practices, but the Giants instead will have an organization-wide barbecue Thursday before sending players away for a six-week hiatus ahead of training camp.
Here are notes and observations from the final practice of the spring:
Injury report
The Giants’ injury report grew as the offseason program progressed, although Daboll and the medical staff were likely being overly cautious in some instances. Daboll said Tuesday that he hopes every player on the roster will be ready for training camp.
Here’s a rundown of all of the players who were not spotted or were working on the side during Wednesday’s practice:
• QB Daniel Jones: Jones’ rehab from a torn ACL is “right on point,” according to Daboll. Jones did everything during the spring except participate in 11-on-11 periods. He said he expects to be fully ready for the start of training camp.
• WR Darius Slayton: Slayton left Tuesday’s practice after appearing to slip while running a route. He got up and walked off the field gingerly. The nature of the injury isn’t known, but Daboll said he expects Slayton to be ready for camp.
• WR Gunner Olszewski: Olszewski injured his ankle while running a route during the second week of OTAs. He was spotted for the first time since suffering that injury at the start of Wednesday’s practice, but he retreated into the facility with trainers after stretching with teammates.
• WR Isaiah McKenzie: Other than fielding punts, McKenzie didn’t participate in any open practices this spring due to an undisclosed injury.
• WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton: Ford-Wheaton suffered an AC sprain in his shoulder during Tuesday’s practice, according to a league source.
• WR Chase Cota: Cota suffered a broken collarbone after landing hard when trying to catch a deep pass in Tuesday’s practice, according to a league source.
• TE Daniel Bellinger: Bellinger didn’t take any team reps this spring. Daboll said “something happened a few weeks ago” with Bellinger, but added that he’s just being “cautious” with the third-year tight end and that “he’ll be fine.”
• TE Jack Stoll: Stoll didn’t participate in minicamp due to an undisclosed injury.
• TE Tyree Jackson: Jackson injured his left wrist in the first open OTA. He returned to practice during minicamp with a brace on his wrist, working with trainers after going through position drills.
• OL Evan Neal: The most alarming injury situation coming out of the spring is Neal, who underwent surgery to repair a small fracture in his ankle in early January. Neal was participating in some individual drills in the first two open OTAs, but Daboll said the Giants “backed off” the 2022 first-round pick recently. Neal was in the facility rehabbing for the first half of the minicamp practices before riding a stationary bike on the sideline. The 6-foot-7, 340-pounder appeared to be laboring as he walked around the practice fields this week.
• DL Timmy Horne: Horne was sidelined for the entire spring by a knee injury.
• DL Jordan Phillips: Phillips, who wasn’t present for the first two open OTAs, was absent again on Wednesday. The lineman underwent wrist surgery in December and didn’t participate in any team periods in the practices he attended this spring.
• OLB Benton Whitley: Whitley was on the sidelines all spring due to a foot/ankle injury.
• ILB Isaiah Simmons: Simmons was on the sidelines all spring due to an undisclosed injury.
• ILB Micah McFadden: McFadden was on the sidelines during the final open OTA and both minicamp practices due to an undisclosed injury.
• CB Tre Hawkins III: Hawkins didn’t participate in minicamp due to an illness, according to a league source.
• CB Aaron Robinson: Robinson was on the sidelines all spring as he continues to recover from the knee surgery he underwent in the fall of 2022.
• CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver: Thomas-Oliver was on the sidelines during minicamp due to an undisclosed injury.
• S Gervarrius Owens: Owens was on the sidelines during the final open OTA and both minicamp practices due to an undisclosed injury.
Observations
Vet days
There wasn’t much to observe in the final practice of the spring since so many of the Giants’ top players got the day off. RB Devin Singletary, LT Andrew Thomas, DL Dexter Lawrence, OLB Brian Burns and ILB Bobby Okereke didn’t participate in team periods.
CB Nick McCloud isn’t in the same tier as those players, but he didn’t participate in team periods on Wednesday. It didn’t seem injury-related, as McCloud wasn’t working with trainers. McCloud was the starting slot cornerback throughout the spring.
OLB Azeez Ojulari didn’t take any team reps during minicamp. The Giants were likely managing the workload of a player with a lengthy injury history.
The extensive injury list, particularly at wide receiver, contributed to the decision to have such a light practice on Wednesday.
GO DEEPER
Scouting reports on Giants rookies: Malik Nabers has gamebreaking talent but has room to grow
Cornerback addition
The Giants needed a veteran cornerback and the salary cap space necessary to make a splash after tight end Darren Waller’s retirement. But anyone hoping for a big-name signing like Stephon Gilmore will be left disappointed after the team filled Waller’s roster spot with Tre Herndon on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Herndon, who has made 34 starts in six seasons, participated in minicamp on a tryout basis. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder has played outside and in the slot during his career, but he mainly played in the slot for the Jaguars last season. That’s where the Giants put Herndon this week, and he responded with an interception off a tipped pass on Wednesday.
Herndon’s contract will likely be for the veteran’s minimum, so the Giants will still have the means to spend on a higher-caliber veteran if they desire.
Malik Nabers, oh my 😯
(via @charlottecrrll)https://t.co/UugVdAbNzg
— NFL (@NFL) June 12, 2024
Practice highlights
• Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson was at quarterback with fellow receiver Malik Nabers by his side in the Wildcat formation before one play Wednesday. Both players motioned into a conventional alignment before the snap, but it was a glimpse of the creativity this offense could unlock.
• Safety Elijah Riley stripped running back Dante Miller, and safety Tyler Nubin recovered.
• Center Jimmy Morrissey sailed a shotgun snap over the head of quarterback Tommy DeVito for the second time in the last three practices. Morrissey, who made four starts in three seasons with the Texans, has been the second-team center ahead of Austin Schlottmann, who signed a two-year, $2.8 million contract with a $500,000 guarantee this offseason.
• There was a twist when McKenzie, Wan’Dale Robinson, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Ayir Asante were fielding punts early in practice. The returners had a tennis ball in their hand that they would flip up as the punt approached. They would catch the punt and then try to catch the tennis ball. The point of the drill was for the returners to try to get the spot where the punt would fall and then throw the tennis ball straight in the air to see how well they were judging the punts. The rookies struggled with the drill, while the experienced McKenzie looked the smoothest.
Haven’t seen tennis balls used this creatively since Judge was taping them to DB’s hands to stop them from holding pic.twitter.com/RoHcjwu2XV
— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) June 12, 2024
Play of the day
Linebacker Darrian Beavers stepped in front of a DeVito pass over the middle and knocked the ball into the air. Herndon snatched the floating deflection for an interception.
Quote of the day
“We were a new defense nine weeks ago. We’re the Giants defense now, right? New is over. I told the guys this morning, ‘I don’t want to hear new no more. It’s not new anymore.’” — Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen
Giants DC Shane Bowen describes his base defense #giants pic.twitter.com/uGMKSCzsAU
— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) June 12, 2024
Next up
Wednesday was the final practice of the spring. The Giants will wrap up their offseason program with an organization-wide barbecue on Thursday. Players will report back for training camp on July 23.
