Latest news with #DruPhillips
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Giants DB Dru Phillips got LASIK this offseason and is loving the results
Giants DB Dru Phillips got LASIK this offseason and is loving the results New York Giants defensive back Dru Phillips had a solid rookie campaign in 2024. He appeared in 14 games for Big Blue, recording 71 tackles (46 solo), one sack, two forced fumbles, one interception, one pass deflection, and 6.5 stuffs. He did miss 11 tackles, which tied him with Bobby Okereke for the third-most missed tackles on the team in 2024, per Pro Football Focus. Throughout his NCAA career and rookie season in the NFL, Phillips required the use of corrective lenses for his vision. However, he revealed on X that he underwent LASIK surgery this offseason. LASIK is typically used to correct vision problems like farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism, so while it's not known what vision problem Phillips had, it's likely one of those three. Phillips spent four years at Kentucky before the Giants drafted him in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft. Last season, PFF had Phillips finishing 13th in the NFL in coverage rating (95.6) out of 23 cornerbacks with at least 250 coverage snaps in the slot. Phillips allowed just one touchdown from the slot, where he recorded his interception as well. Phillips could be even better in 2025 with his vision corrected and not needing to use corrective lenses, which would be huge for the Giants' secondary, especially if Deonte Banks can't figure out how to get it together.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Underrated' Giants Corner Poised for Breakout
The New York Giants' 2024 NFL Draft class may have saved general manager Joe Schoen's job. They didn't land a franchise quarterback (and three may have gone after their sixth-overall pick), but receiver Malik Nabers is a superstar, and several starters emerged in later rounds. Day 2 saw new starters in safety Tyler Nubin and corner Dru Phillips. On Day 3, tight end Theo Johnson quickly took Daniel Bellinger's job and running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. became a piece of the Giants' long-term plans. Advertisement New York outperformed its modest expectations here, albeit somewhat thanks to the opportunities that come with a poor roster. Among those who truly ran with their starting jobs was Phillips, who started Week 1 in the slot and held the job the rest of the way. On Wednesday, Pro Football Focus listed Phillips as the Giants' most underrated player, and he seems poised for a breakout after his promising rookie season. 'Phillips was thrust into a key role as a rookie, manning the slot and playing more than 600 defensive snaps in a potential sink-or-swim scenario for the third-round pick out of Kentucky,' Jonathan Macri wrote. 'To Phillips' credit, he performed at a high level despite missing some time with injuries, finishing with a 77.5 PFF overall grade — a top-10 mark for the position. Advertisement 'Phillips was one of just eight cornerbacks to rank in the top 25 in PFF coverage grade (75.8) and PFF run-defense grade (78.1) in 2024 and one of just three (Cooper DeJean and Kyler Gordon) to do it while spending the majority of his snaps in the slot, where his run-defense skills come into play more often.' Phillips wasn't overly productive as a rookie, forcing two fumbles and an interception. If he takes a step forward at the catch point, the sky's the limit. In Year 1, Phillips made it clear that he is willing to get his hands dirty against the run. To do so while also holding his own in coverage is impressive, perhaps more so given the instability around him. Armed with a better supporting cast and an offseason to further digest defensive coordinator Shane Bowen's defense, the best could very well be ahead for the most exciting third-round pick of Schoen's tenure. Related: Report Cards: How We Grade the Giants 2024 Rookie Class? Related: NFC East Positional Rankings: Do Giants' Quarterbacks Matter?
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New York Giants' Matt Swensen wins first place in Hall of Fame photo contest
New York Giants creative and photography director Matt Swenson's photo of three Giants rookies during a pregame "contemplative moment" won first prize out of 1,200 entries in the Feature category in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's annual photo contest. The black-and-white photo shows tight end Theo Johnson, cornerback Dru Phillips, and wide receiver Malik Nabers "taking a moment in deep thought before the Giants' primetime game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Oct. 28, 2024." "There's always a level of chaos during pre-game introductions, especially as the road team, and that is when I captured this photo," Swensen recalled in an interview with "On the opposite side of the field, I noticed three of our rookies in the end zone and they were backlit by the fireworks. I ran over trying not to be too intrusive in the moment because that's their time to get mentally ready."The Giants lost the game, 26-18, but it was obviously not a wasted effort, especially for Swenson. This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' Matt Swensen wins first place in Hall of Fame photo contest
