Giants OTAs: Dizzying QB rotation, quest for turnovers highlight feisty Thursday

New York Times

2 days ago

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants wrapped up their second week of OTAs with a surprisingly spirited practice that ended prematurely due to a fight.
Before outside linebackers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux squared off against tackles James Hudson and Jermaine Eluemunor in a rare spring brawl, the story of Thursday's practice was the dizzying rotation at quarterback. Russell Wilson, Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston and Tommy DeVito alternated after individual reps at one point in the fast-paced practice.
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Here are notes and observations from Thursday's practice:
Coach Brian Daboll said every player was at the facility Thursday, but left tackle Andrew Thomas, defensive lineman Jeremiah Ledbetter, inside linebacker Bobby Okereke, outside linebacker Victor Dimukeje and safety Anthony Johnson weren't spotted on the field.
Thomas (foot/ankle), Dimukeje (pec) and Johnson (shoulder) are rehabilitating documented injuries. Daboll declined to provide any injury updates, so there was no explanation for the absences of Ledbetter and Okereke.
Wide receiver Malik Nabers again came out of the facility an hour into practice. Daboll said last week the team is 'being smart' with a toe injury that has lingered since college.
Third-round pick Darius Alexander and fourth-round pick Cam Skattebo worked on the side with trainers during practice. Wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton joined the limited players after participating in some early-practice drills. Ford-Wheaton is recovering from postseason shoulder surgery. There's no word on what's limiting Alexander and Skattebo.
The Giants' quarterback situation has enough intrigue to warrant its own section in the practice report. It was a challenge just to track the constant shuffling on Thursday. In each of Daboll's first three offseasons, there had been a clear pecking order among the quarterbacks, and one QB would handle all of the reps in a period with the first, second and third teams. But there was far more mixing and matching Thursday.
Veteran Russell Wilson exclusively worked with the first-team offense. Rookie Jaxson Dart took the majority of second-team reps, but he also got two reps with the starters and one rep with the third-stringers. Jameis Winston took the majority of third-team reps, while also getting one rep with the starters and three with the second-team offense. Tommy DeVito got the fewest reps, and his mostly came with the third-team.
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Wilson was sharp early in practice, mostly hitting underneath passes, before he was picked off by Dane Belton when the ball-hawking safety jumped a slant over the middle.
Dart got off to a rough start, with two passes batted down at the line and an interception by cornerback Tre Hawkins on an under-thrown deep ball to undrafted rookie wide receiver Da'Quan Felton. Dart completed some short passes before his second interception on a pass over the middle that undrafted rookie safety Makari Paige picked off.
The most notable development was that Dart was ahead of Winston on the depth chart, at least for one practice. It's far too early to read into that, as it appears there will be adjustments among the quarterback reps each practice.
Mike Kafka on what stands out about Jaxson Dart
🎥: https://t.co/gukOgOyOrU pic.twitter.com/y04ODEcQis
— GiantsTV (@GiantsTV) June 5, 2025
• Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was the play-caller, using a walkie-talkie to signal the calls into the quarterbacks. That has been the case in every open practice this spring, as all signs point toward Kafka reclaiming the role after being stripped of play-calling last year.
With Kafka calling the plays, Daboll often conversed with the quarterbacks after their reps.
• There were no reps in team periods for guard Greg Van Roten, guard Jon Runyan, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and cornerback Deonte Banks. With the starting guards not participating, Evan Neal got first-team reps at left guard, while Jake Kubas was the starting right guard. Aaron Stinnie rotated in at both guard spots with the first-team offense late in practice.
• Burns and Thibodeaux were the starters at outside linebacker, but No. 3 pick Abdul Carter was heavily involved. There were a handful of plays with all three edge rushers on the field together.
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Carter was in a three-point stance across from the right tackle with Thibodeaux aligned wider in a three-point stance in one package. Burns was the edge rusher on the other side of that formation and recorded a sack when he came free up the middle on a stunt.
Carter had a sack on a Winston rollout with the second-team defense. Carter was also spotted lining up at inside linebacker. It's clear that the Giants plan to move the No. 3 pick all over to get their top three pass rushers on the field together as much as possible.
• Belton's interception continued what defensive coordinator Shane Bowen called 'a really good spring' before practice. Bowen said they're finding ways to get Belton, who has always displayed a nose for the ball, on the field.
Belton was used in a dime package during Thursday's practice. He also stepped in for starting safety Tyler Nubin alongside Jevon Holland late in practice.
• Darius Muasau stepped in next to Micah McFadden at inside linebacker with Okereke not practicing. Dyontae Johnson, who flashed potential last offseason, was with the third-team defense.
• Before the fight caused an abrupt end to practice, the Giants were competing in a situational period. The starting offense got the ball at its own 33-yard line trailing 21-17 with 58 seconds remaining. Wilson threw the ball away on first down and then tight end Theo Johnson couldn't hang onto a short pass over the middle on second down. Wilson hit running back Tyrone Tracy with a dump-off on third-and-10 before the fight prevented the fourth-down attempt.
• Quick hits: With Banks sitting out, Cor'Dale Flott was the first-team cornerback opposite Paulson Adebo … Defensive tackle Elijah Chatman lined up at fullback for a few reps in a walk-through period … Felton made an impressive one-handed snag on a pass from Winston. The rookie stuck out his hand as he made his break and the pass was on the money … Wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette, running back Dante Miller, wide receiver Montrell Washington and wide receiver Jordan Bly were the punt returners.
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Here's a snapshot of the depth chart from Thursday's practice. It's important to keep in mind that players rotate frequently at some positions and I don't chart the personnel on every play, so you might not see every name listed. Also, not every practice is open during OTAs, so being a starter on Thursday doesn't mean that player is necessarily at the top of the depth chart.
• First-team offense: QB Russell Wilson, RB Tyrone Tracy, WR Darius Slayton, WR Jalin Hyatt, WR Wan'Dale Robinson, TE Theo Johnson, LT James Hudson, LG Evan Neal, C John Michael Schmitz, RG Jake Kubas, RT Jermaine Eluemunor.
• Second-team offense: QB Jaxson Dart, RB Eric Gray, WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR Zach Pascal, WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey, TE Daniel Bellinger, LT Stone Forsythe, LG Josh Ezeudu, C Austin Schlottmann, RG Aaron Stinnie, RT Marcus Mbow.
• Third-team offense: QB Jameis Winston, RB Dante Miller, WR Da'Quan Felton, WR Beaux Collins, WR Antwane Wells, TE Thomas Fidone, LT Stone Forsythe, LG Bryan Hudson, C Jimmy Morrissey, RG Jaison Williams, RT Marcus Mbow.
• First-team defense: DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches, DL Roy Robertson-Harris, DL Elijah Chatman, OLB Brian Burns, OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux, ILB Micah McFadden, ILB Darius Muasau, CB Paulson Adebo, CB Cor'Dale Flott, CB Dru Phillips (slot), S Jevon Holland, S Tyler Nubin.
The Giants used a dime package late in practice. Chatman and Robertson-Harris were the linemen with Burns, Thibodeaux and McFadden at linebacker. Adebo, Flott and Phillips were the corners, with Holland, Belton and Raheem Layne at safety.
• Second-team defense: DL Elijah Chatman, DL Jordon Riley, DL Elijah Garcia, OLB Abdul Carter, OLB Tomon Fox, ILB CJ Board, ILB Ty Summers, CB Tre Hawkins, CB Art Green, CB Nic Jones (slot), S Dane Belton, S Raheem Layne.
Wilson uncorked one of his signature moonballs to wide receiver Darius Slayton for a deep connection over Flott. Wilson flicked the ball quickly as the pass rush closed in.
Russell Wilson on being a leader
🎥: https://t.co/VEBGyLEkof pic.twitter.com/w4165vXtwk
— GiantsTV (@GiantsTV) June 5, 2025
'The main thing is emphasizing takeaways. We got to get better at takeaways. Somehow got the idea of piracy — violent, attacking to steal possessions or goods, right? You'll hear our guys say it. I say it ad nauseam: 'Be a damn pirate.' We got to find ways to get the ball. And, again, you get what you emphasize. We're making it a priority this year to make sure we find ways to get the ball.' — Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen on the origins of the defense's new 'turnover chest'
The Giants conduct their seventh OTA on Monday. Their next practice open to the media is June 12.
(Photo of Jaxson Dart: Adam Hunger / Getty Images)