Giants QB Jaxson Dart dials up aggression; Abdul Carter dominates in practice with Jets
With the practice conducted at the Jets' facility, the Giants left their injured players at home to rehab. That group included RB Cam Skattebo, WR Malik Nabers, WR Jalin Hyatt, WR Da'Quan Felton, OL Evan Neal, CB Dru Phillips and CB Tre Hawkins.
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Coach Brian Daboll doesn't provide details on injuries, so it's hard to know the exact status of those players. But Nabers' continued absence is notable, as he was shut down during last Wednesday's practice and hasn't participated since. Nabers said after Wednesday's practice that his limited workload was 'part of the plan.' The star wide receiver has been managing a lingering toe injury all offseason.
Skattebo hasn't practiced since enduring a setback with a hamstring injury Aug. 1, while Hawkins has been sidelined since last Wednesday after aggravating a hamstring injury, according to a league source.
Neal was sidelined for practice last Thursday and didn't participate in Saturday's preseason opener with an undisclosed injury. He is losing valuable time in the battle for the starting right guard job. Phillips left Saturday's game after one series with an undisclosed injury.
Hyatt's absence is curious. He missed four practices early in camp with lower body 'tightness,' but he had been a full participant in six straight practices before being a surprise inactive for the preseason opener. Daboll didn't reveal the nature of Hyatt's injury or when he got hurt.
All of the players on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list — RB Eric Gray, LT Andrew Thomas and OLB Victor Dimukeje — were also absent. Gray and Dimukeje are expected to shift to the reserve PUP list when the season starts, which would require them to miss at least the first four games.
Thomas' prolonged stint on the PUP list isn't yet a concern, but the season opener is less than four weeks away. The clock is ticking because the team will want to give Thomas time to ramp up for game action after an extended rehab process from a Lisfranc injury in his foot.
James Hudson, who has been filling in for Thomas as the first-team left tackle, left the field briefly but returned to finish practice. Cornerback Deonte Banks was spotted leaving practice during the final period.
Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (undisclosed) and cornerback Korie Black (groin) worked on the side with trainers. Both players are working back from injuries.
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There (still) is no quarterback controversy. Jaxson Dart's impressive preseason debut didn't impact the quarterback pecking order. The rookie worked exclusively with the second-team offense Tuesday, while Russell Wilson took every first-team rep.
It was an up-and-down practice for Dart, who completed 11-of-17 passes in 11-on-11 periods. Dart had one play blown dead when he failed to catch a shotgun snap, had a pass batted at the line and was off-target on a few incompletions.
The most encouraging aspect of Dart's day is that he was aggressive, pushing the ball downfield, and not just on deep bombs. He was patient behind rare good protection to hit tight end Theo Johnson on a deep out. Dart went through his progressions before finding wide receiver Montrell Washington for a chunk gain on a crossing route. Dart climbed the pocket to avoid pressure and hit wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette on a deep out, which drew the quarterback an enthusiastic high-five from Daboll.
Practice finished with a red-zone period. Dart capped the second-team's 'drive' with a perfectly-placed back-shoulder throw to wide receiver Zach Pascal, who did a tremendous job getting his feet inbounds while juggling the ball for a touchdown. That drew a huge smile from Daboll, who has been beaming about his first-round pick recently.
It's safe to say the Giants' offense will be in trouble if it is without Nabers and Thomas this season. The absence of the offense's top two players was felt during an extremely sluggish start for the first team.
This is how Wilson's first four reps went: A sack as Hudson was beat inside (and was flagged for holding); a sack as Wilson fell with right guard Greg Van Roten getting pushed into his lap; a batted pass at the line; and a sack as Jets edge rusher Will McDonald blew past right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor with an inside move.
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The number of sacks was telling since plays are rarely blown dead in practice. But the pocket collapsed so much or the pressure was so immediate that there was no choice but to declare a sack.
Daboll's blood pressure was clearly rising as the period progressed, with penalties continuing to be an issue. Daboll and Eluemunor appeared to have a testy exchange at one point, as the starting offense continued to sputter.
Third-string quarterback Jameis Winston, who only got four 11-on-11 reps in the practice, addressed the entire offense during a huddle after the poor showing in the first competitive period.
Russell Wilson
Giants
Daboll's mood turned around as the offense finished the day on a high note in the red-zone period. The starters finished with the day three straight touchdowns. First, Wilson hit Johnson in the seam with a laser from the 8-yard line. Then, running back Devin Singletary found a huge hole on a zone-read handoff from the 7-yard line. Finally, Wilson delivered a strike to wide receiver Darius Slayton on a crossing route from the 4-yard line. Daboll greeted Wilson with a big high-five after the final touchdown of the drive.
Slayton's workload was limited in his return from missing four practices with an undisclosed injury. Undrafted rookie Beaux Collins, who hadn't practiced since July 31 with an undisclosed injury, got extensive work with the first-team offense in his return to action. Pascal, Washington and Lil'Jordan Humphrey also took reps with the starters.
Meanwhile, even with Neal out, the rotation at right guard continued. The Giants continued managing the workload of 35-year-old starter Greg Van Roten, as Aaron Stinnie and Jake Kubas each played one period at right guard with the first-team offense.
The Giants' defense delivered a strong day. Jets quarterback Justin Fields had some quality moments early, but he eventually succumbed to a relentless Giants pass rush, which had itself a day.
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The Giants' front, which is poised to be its strongest position group, combined for a lot of would-be sacks — had whistles been blown. On multiple plays, there were so many Giants in the backfield, it was tough to say who would've gotten credit for the sack.
We know outside linebacker Brian Burns got one against Jets first-round right tackle Armand Membou. On another play, star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence ran Fields to the sidelines, forcing him to throw the ball away.
Outside linebacker Abdul Carter continues to demonstrate why he was the No. 3 pick in this year's draft. Perhaps the best example of his dominance came when he easily beat Jets center Joe Tippmann to get to Fields before he could throw the ball. While Fields eventually completed a beautiful pass to wide receiver Tyler Johnson, it likely would have been a sack in a regular game.
As has been the case all camp, Carter played on both sides of the defense and worked with both the first and second teams. While he was tested against Jets left tackle Olu Fashanu, Carter made it look easy going against the Jets' second-team line.
"He's a grown man…he didn't shock anybody by some of the things that he can do. He's a damn good player."
Jets HC Aaron Glenn on what he saw from Abdul Carter in today's joint practice: pic.twitter.com/PdtVo4S4ph
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) August 12, 2025
The Jets' first-team offense only scored one touchdown in its red-zone period at the end of practice, with Fields firing a sidearm strike to tight end Jeremy Ruckert from the 3-yard line.
Banks had been running with the first-team defense before leaving during the final red-zone period. Art Green and O'Donnell Fortune both got reps in Banks' place.
While the Giants starters logged just two series in Saturday's preseason opener, Banks played the entire first half. General manager Joe Schoen said during the broadcast that it was 'important to get out here and let him play,' so the Giants clearly want Banks getting as many reps as possible in these joint practices.
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Inside linebacker Micah McFadden's impressive camp continued with a strong play against Jets running back Breece Hall to stop a run. Meanwhile Lawrence, who did not play in Saturday's preseason opener, took more team reps Tuesday as he works his way back from a dislocated elbow suffered last season. Lawrence said he's on track in his recovery.
Third-round defensive tackle Darius Alexander, who has had a quiet camp, pressured Fields while playing with the starters in the final red-zone period.
Pascal's touchdown catch from Dart in the red zone was a masterful combination of soft hands and quick feet. Pascal was blanketed by Jets cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse, but Dart showed faith in the receiver by firing a pass to his back shoulder. Pascal tipped the ball back to his body with his right hand, tapping both feet inbounds as he hauled in the catch.
This catch 🤯 pic.twitter.com/HX5nEclhki
— New York Giants (@Giants) August 12, 2025
'We have to respond tomorrow, honestly. Greatness and being a great team, you got to be consistent. We did well today. We have to go do well tomorrow because they're going to have a fire in them tomorrow.' — DL Dexter Lawrence
The Giants will host the Jets for a second joint practice at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
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