7 New York Giants with most to gain during joint practices with Jets
There's still a load of camp battles going on with Big Blue, and Saturday's 34-25 victory over the Bills in Buffalo just made some of the competitions a little tighter.
Here are seven Giants with the most to gain in joint practices with the Jets this week.
CB Deonte Banks
Last year was a disaster for Deonte Banks, the Giants' 2023 first-round pick. He was inconsistent and lacked focus to the point where his desire to play was brought into question. In the first preseason game, he played the entire first half not only because there were injuries at cornerback but because the coaching staff wanted him to get extra reps. He is in a showdown with Cor'Dale Flott for the CB2 spot and needs to outplay Flott this summer. Flott did not play against Buffalo but should be back this week. Banks has to hone his game to stay afloat.
OL Marcus Mbow
The rookie was dominant against the Bills on both sides of the line. If he continues to shine, it's going to be difficult to keep him on the sidelines. There's been speculation that the team could consider moving right tackle Jermaine Elumonor to guard and inserting Marcus Mbow at tackle. We're a long way from there right now, but things could change. Right now, Mbow could end up playing left tackle if Andrew Thomas doesn't come off PUP.
WR Jalin Hyatt
Jalin Hyatt didn't play in Buffalo, and that's too bad for him. He needs live reps to be considered in the passing game this year. With wideouts abundant in camp, the onus is on Hyatt to make his case, not the other way around.
QB Jaxson Dart
Jaxson Dart looked like a seasoned veteran against Buffalo on Saturday. Cool and confident. No matter how well Russell Wilson plays, if Dart matches him blow-for-blow, the fans will be calling for him to play earlier than expected.
TE Daniel Bellinger
Although he's a solid player, Daniel Bellinger is on the bubble this summer. The Giants have talent and depth at the position, and he could end up being the odd man out. Theo Johnson is the starter, with Chris Manhertz the top blocking option. With the emergence of rookie Thomas Fidone II, things are getting tighter for Bellinger.
WR Montrell Washington
It will be hard to tell Montrell Washington to "grab your tablet, the coach wants to see you" at the end of the month. The free agent has done everything right this summer and could be a real find. He had 60 yards on three receptions versus the Bills on Saturday. He deserves another extended look this week against the Jets, both in practices and the game.
RB Dante Miller
Dante Miller was the Giants' official offensive player of the game last week with 102 total yards from scrimmage. If Cam Skattebo is out again, that could mean more work for Turbo, who can get first downs as a third-down back. He's another player who is playing his way onto the roster. Another good week, and there's no way the Giants don't keep him.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
41 minutes ago
- Fox News
Jets QB Justin Fields on Their Passing Game: 'We're Fine With 8-Yard Completions'
The New York Jets' passing game has been short on long passes this summer. The lack of deep throws has some fans anxious, wondering if Justin Fields and the offense will be able to stretch the field against opponents this season when needed. Well, relying on the run and mixing in short passes might be an effective alternative. "I mean, yeah, we're fine with taking 8-yard completions every play, if I'm being honest with you," Fields said Tuesday before practice. Fields and the starters on offense played just two series in the Jets' 31-12 preseason loss to the Giants last Saturday night — and it was hardly an eye-popping display through the air. Fields, signed to a two-year, $40 million deal in the offseason to replace Aaron Rodgers as the Jets' starting quarterback, went just 1-for-5 passing for 4 yards. Meanwhile, New York ran the ball 13 times for 55 yards — with Fields getting 5 yards on his lone run, which was originally called a pass play. Boring, sure. And coach Aaron Glenn said the offense, in general, wasn't good enough. But Fields insists there's a method to methodically testing teams on the ground. "Of course, you want explosives, but like I said Saturday, we're not going to force the ball down the field," Fields said. "If they want to get depth on the second level, we're fine with taking the 8-, 10-yard completion and taking time off the clock and just driving down the field and having 10-, 15-play drives. It gets the defense tired." One of the Jets' strengths is their running game with the trio of Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis in the backfield. They've all looked solid throughout training camp and the two preseason games, although Davis sat out against the Giants with an ankle issue. The ground-and-pound approach was on full display Saturday night, when the Jets opened their second possession by running on 10 straight plays before an incompletion by Fields on third-and-2 to Garrett Wilson. The 11-play drive was capped by a 38-yard field goal by Nick Folk. "It might not be as exciting on the offensive side of the ball for the fans," Fields said. "Like I said, it's efficient ball. It's also getting the defense tired and, you know, just driving down the field like that." Left guard John Simpson welcomes it, saying he and his fellow offensive linemen light up a little more when they know it's going to be a run play. "The identity of this team is physicality," Simpson said. "No matter what play it is — run, pass, whatever — I think coach does a good job at telling us that that's what he wants. He wants it to be, whatever it is, to be physical. "And if that means we've got to run the ball 12 times, 15 times in a row, that's what it is, so I'm ready for it." Just as he was Saturday night when he and his O-linemates heard the play calls for almost the entire second series. "Let's go, yeah, I love it," Simpson said with a laugh. "I just want to be as physical as I can and just dominate. It don't really matter to me what the play is, but when I do hear a run call, I do get a little bit excited." Fields would also appear to be a fine fit for a run-first system in new coordinator Tanner Engstrand's offense. He has terrific scrambling ability, with a knack for turning what seems to be a broken play into a positive with his legs. In his second NFL season with Chicago in 2022, Fields ran for a career-best 1,143 yards and eight scores. Simpson is used to playing with a quarterback who can run, having been teammates with Lamar Jackson in Baltimore during the 2023 season. "It's kind of not too different for me," Simpson said. "At the end of the day, it's just football. He'll find an open hole if he's got to get loose and run. It's just us five (O-linemen) doing our job, protecting. And then if he's got to get loose, he'll get loose." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Pro Football Focus: Lowest-graded New York Jets players on defense vs. the Giants
The New York Jets took on the Giants and lost in a 31-12 fashion in the second weekend of the 2025 NFL preseason. Sometimes the stats can tell the story of who performed well and who did not, but Pro Football Focus is there to provide a little bit more context. The football analytics outlet has released their final grades for players who competed in this week's game based on their metrics. How did Jets players fare? Here is a bit more of a clearer picture for you now. PFF's five-worst grades for players on the Jets defense against the Giants can be found below (minimum 10 snaps played): 5. CB Mario Goodrich PFF grade: 42.6. 4. LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball PFF grade: 41.0. 3. LB Zaire Barnes PFF grade: 31.3. 2. LB Aaron Smith PFF grade: 27.4. 1. S Andre Cisco PFF grade: 27.2.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Pro Football Focus: Highest-graded New York Jets players on defense vs. the Giants
The New York Jets took on the Giants and lost in a 31-12 fashion in the second weekend of the 2025 NFL preseason. Sometimes the stats can tell the story of who performed well and who did not, but Pro Football Focus is there to provide a little bit more context. The football analytics outlet has released their final grades for players who competed in this week's game based on their metrics. How did Jets players fare? Here is a bit more of a clearer picture for you now. PFF's five-best grades for players on the Jets defense against the Giants can be found below (minimum 10 snaps played): 5. CB Ryan Cooper Jr. PFF grade: 70.9. 4. DE Kingsley Jonathan PFF grade: 82.7. 3. CB Brandon Stephens PFF grade: 84.9. 2. S Dean Clark PFF grade: 86.7. 1. CB Jarrick Benard-Converse PFF grade: 87.2.
