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Giants-Cowboys 2025, Week 2: Everything you need to know as Giants seek to avoid 0-2 start

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The New York Giants seek to avoid a third consecutive 0-2 start when they travel to Arlington, Texas to face the Dallas Cowboys. Game time is 1 p.m. ET, with the broadcast on FOX. You can listen on WFAN 101.9-FM and affiliated stations across the Giants Radio Network.

The Giants are 5.5-point underdogs against the Cowboys, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

The 0-1 Giants come off a disappointing season-opening 21-6 loss to the Washington Commanders. The 0-1 Cowboys gave the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles a fight, but fell short, 24-20.

Giants head coach Brian has already announced that Russell Wilson will continue as the Giants’ starting quarterback. The Giants will be without starting linebacker Micah McFadden, who will miss “significant time” with a foot injury.

The Cowboys won both meetings between the teams in 2024. The Giants have, in fact, lost eight straight games to Dallas and 15 of 16 since the 2017 season.

Follow this StoryStream throughout the week for all of the pre-game, in-game and post-game Giants-Cowboys coverage.

See SB Nation’s Blogging The Boys for all the news about the Cowboys.


Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...eed-to-know-as-giants-seek-to-avoid-0-2-start
 
NFL Week 2 power rankings: Giants sinking fast after ugly opener

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Let’s look at where the New York Giants sit in Week 2 NFL power rankings. Spoiler: it’s not pretty.

NFL.com (Edholm) — No. 28

The Giants offered little of the hope and excitement we saw in the preseason. They hung with Washington for stretches, but offensive drives stalled far too often. With Andrew Thomas out, Russell Wilson was under constant pressure — something that’s become a theme in the Brian Daboll era. Daboll did confirm Wilson as the Week 2 starter, but the delay in announcing it only fuels speculation that rookie Jaxson Dart should be ready. New York averaged just 3.7 yards per play and scored six points in the opener.

CBS Sports (Prisco) — No. 30

The sooner they get to Jaxson Dart, the better off they’ll be. Russell Wilson isn’t the answer.

Pro Football Talk (Florio) — No. 31

Jaxson Dart is ready. It’s unclear whether the rest of the offense is.

Bleacher Report — No. 28

Russell Wilson completed just 46 percent of his passes and led the team in rushing with 44 yards — not exactly the formula for success. Malik Nabers still managed five catches for 71 yards, but you wonder what his stat line would look like with Dart under center. The rookie quarterback, who created plenty of preseason buzz, figures to provide a spark at some point this season.

USA Today (Davis) — No. 28

As much as fans want Dart in the lineup, wide receiver Malik Nabers might eventually be the one demanding it most.

ESPN (Raanan) — No. 31

Edge rusher Brian Burns was the lone bright spot, racking up two sacks, six tackles, and a pair of tackles for loss. He left briefly with an ankle issue but returned to continue disrupting Washington’s backfield.

Yahoo Sports (Schwab) — No. 27

There’s no upside to sticking with Wilson over Dart. Maybe it stunts Dart’s development to play behind a line without Andrew Thomas, but it’s clear the Giants wouldn’t be worse right now with the rookie at QB.

Sports Illustrated (Orr) — No. 29

Russell Wilson completed fewer than half his passes for the first time since Week 2 of 2022. Protection issues were glaring, and while Wilson had his struggles, the offensive line looked like one of the NFL’s worst in Week 1. Brian Daboll knows throwing Dart into that mess might be reckless — but pressure for change is already mounting.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...ankings-giants-sinking-fast-after-ugly-opener
 
Russell Wilson not threatened by Jaxson Dart — ‘My confidence never blinks’

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Russell Wilson insists he isn’t rattled by the presence of first-round pick Jaxson Dart waiting behind him on the New York Giants’ depth chart.

Asked Wednesday about growing calls for Dart to take over after a sluggish Week 1 loss to Washington, Wilson said he isn’t affected by the noise.

“I think that you embrace challenge. I don’t think I run from challenges. I don’t think I run from anything,” Wilson said. “My confidence never blinks. I’ve been through everything — the highest highs and some lows. But my confidence never wavers, and that comes from experience and the work.”

The Giants’ opener offered little of the preseason buzz surrounding the team. New York managed just six points in a 21-6 defeat, averaging 3.7 yards per play and converting 5 of 18 combined third- and fourth-down attempts. Wilson completed under 50% of his passes and was also the team’s leading rusher, underscoring just how broken the offense looked without injured left tackle Andrew Thomas.

Wilson admitted he didn’t “play good enough” and put much of the blame on missed opportunities in the red zone. “We had the ball on the one. We’ve got to score,” Wilson said. “That’s the biggest part of the game. We had two opportunities down there and didn’t get it done.”

Head coach Brian Daboll declined to immediately commit to Wilson as the starter after the loss, fueling speculation about whether Dart’s chance could come sooner rather than later. Wilson brushed aside any notion that he worried about Daboll’s wording.

“No, I don’t wonder that,” Wilson said. “I don’t look into syntax and diction. I’m grateful to be the quarterback here, grateful to lead these guys every day. That’s my mentality.”

Wilson also defended rookie receiver Malik Nabers, who was caught in a heated sideline exchange with Daboll during the game. “We’re competitive individuals. This isn’t always high fives and smiles,” Wilson said. “Nabs is a great competitor. He competed his butt off, and he’s a great teammate.”

Looking ahead, Wilson emphasized that the Giants can’t afford to dwell on the opener with a divisional showdown at Dallas looming in Week 2. “It’s a 17-round fight and we’ve got to go win round two,” Wilson said. “You’ve got to have amnesia. Real winners, if you lose a tough one, you’re able to wipe the slate and get back to work.”

For now, Wilson remains QB1 — but the urgency is clear. The Giants’ offense must find answers quickly, or the calls for Dart will only get louder.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...ned-by-jaxson-dart-my-confidence-never-blinks
 
What the injury to Cowboys’ CB DaRon Bland means for the Giants

Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland on the practice field


The Dallas Cowboys will be without one of their best defenders when they play the New York Giants this Sunday.

Cornerback DaRon Bland suffered a foot injury in practice on Monday, and the team will be without him for “multiple weeks”. This, per a report from Todd Archer of ESPN, is an incredibly nasty surprise for a defense that’s already looking for answers after the trade of star edge (and DPOY candidate) Micah Parsons. In a twist of fate, the Cowboys awarded Bland a four-year, $90 million contract extension shortly after trading Parsons.

This is undoubtedly a break for the Giants, who are looking for any answer they can find after a disastrous performance against the Washington Commanders. The Giants offense was unable to find anything approaching traction in Week 1, needing several big fourth down conversions simply to sustain drives. New York was almost completely unable to find consistent production down the field, and open pass catchers not named Malik Nabers were few and far between.

The Cowboys will likely be depending on Trevon Diggs to cover Nabers, and may opt to roll help his way as well. That would put Kaiir Elam and some combination of C.J. Goodwin, Reddy Stewart, and Trikweze Bridges on the Giants’ second, third, and fourth receiver options.

The Giants are still searching for a receiving option to step up — and open up — while teams double cover Nabers.

The Cowboys’ defense played relatively well against the Eagles’ offense in Week 1, but they were also obviously missing Micah Parsons’ presence up front. The loss of Bland is another big blow to a defense rapidly running out of difference makers.

Andrew Thomas back to practice​


After skipping Wednesday’s padded practice, Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas was on the field for practice on Thursday. Head coach Brian Daboll said the left tackle, still coming back from LisFranc surgery in the middle of the 2024 season, would participate in team periods on Thursday.

Whether Thomas will be able to play on Sunday against the Cowboys is still unknown.

Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, who was limited on Wednesday with a calf injury, did not practice on Thursday after apparently aggravating the injury.

Dexter Lawrence returned to practice after missing Wednesday for the birth of his child. Wan’Dale Robinson (ankle) also returned to practice. Malik Nabers, limited on Wednesday, was expected to be a full participant on Thursday.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...o-cowboys-cb-daron-bland-means-for-the-giants
 
Giants news, 9/12: Micah McFadden to IR, Cam Skattebo, Andrew Thomas, more headlines

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Good morning, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View​

Other Giant observations​

One angry NFL play at a time: Why Cam Skattebo has a legacy to uphold with NY Giants | The Record


Before Skattebo earned the “Angry Runs” scepter from NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt with his preferred physicality in a pair of plays from his NFL debut this past weekend, you can go back and revisit the most memorable run of his career to this point – one he chases every time he puts on a helmet and steps between the lines.

“The running over people stuff is gonna be a consistent thing throughout my career,” Skattebo said. “That blitz pickup is also fun, but we want more. We need to do more, and if my reps go up, I have to do more. I think that’s what we’re all hoping for.”

PFT’s Mike Florio on how short the leash in on Russell Wilson​

💻 @ProFootballTalk

Could Russell Wilson get the hook this week if he struggles against Dallas? When will it be Jaxon Dart SZN?#NFL #NYGiants pic.twitter.com/bSIjfc1XtA

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) September 11, 2025

The Giants are ready for whenever Jaxson Dart takes the reins from Russell Wilson | New York Post


Each week, Dart and Daboll meet to go over all this, with every rep on the scout team studied and analyzed.

“You try to play that like a game the best you can with your timing, with your rhythm, with your eye control, with your mechanics, with when to take off, when not to take off,” Daboll said. “You treat those show-team reps, if you will, like game reps. And then when you’re standing behind the offense when they’re going, he’s taking game reps on every play, along with [third string] Jameis [Winston]. And they’re back there 10 yards going through the mechanics, motions, shifts, protection calls, re-identifications. They’re playing the game, not with the 10 other guys, but they’re playing it behind the huddle and taking advantage of every opportunity they can.”

5 Giants players to watch Week 2 in Dallas | Giants.com


Bobby Okereke was a tackling machine in Week 1 as he led the team with 16 total tackles, eight more than anyone else on the defense. However, the veteran linebacker struggled a bit in coverage with four receptions allowed (on four targets) for 46 yards. Following the injury to Micah McFadden, which Daboll said on Wednesday will sideline the fourth-year linebacker for Sunday’s game, the Giants are going to need Okereke and Darius Muasau to step up in the middle of the defense.

The Cowboys ran the ball 22 times against the Eagles, compared to 34 pass attempts. Running back Javonte Williams gained 54 yards on 15 carries (3.6 avg.) but was able to find the end zone twice. Perhaps more importantly for the two Giants linebackers is the matchup against Jake Ferguson. The veteran tight end has developed into one of Prescott’s favorite targets, evidenced by his six targets last week (second-most on the team). Ferguson turned that into five receptions for 23 yards, but the tight end figures to play a big role in Dallas’ game plan this week.

Brian Daboll Backs NY Giants Starting Center John Michael Schmitz | SI.com


Against Washington, Schmitz allowed a sack and a quarterback hit. He hasn’t shown the type of power to move guys off the point of attack, an issue that continued in Week 1. However, Schmitz still gave up far too much space in pass pro on his back pedal, which contributed to the collapse of the pocket. Despite the metrics, head coach Brian Daboll appears to remain firmly behind Schmitz.

“John Michael is tough. He’s smart. He does a good job of getting everything set up for the offensive linemen,” Daboll said. “I think he’s a strong player. He’s tough. He’s a finisher. I think he’s done a nice job for us. Are there plays that he wishes he had back? Sure. Just like every player, just like every coach, but I have confidence in John Michael as our center.”

New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys: 5 storylines to watch | USAToday.com

Will the offense finally wake up? The six-point output in Week 1 was the lowest in the NFL and a major disappointment after the Giants scored a total of 107 points in their three preseason games. They were 31st in scoring last season with a 16.1 points per game average. In 2023, they were 30th at 15.6 points per game.

In training camp and preseason games, we saw Wilson and the other quarterbacks (Dart, Jameis Winston, and Tommy DeVito) have success throwing the ball down the field. In the opener, the longest completion went for 25 yards. As per Sharp Football, the Giants punted on a league-high 66.7% of their possessions in Week 1 after ranking 30th in the department in 2024 (42.1%).

Russell Wilson deserves everyone’s respect on his way out the Giants door | The Athletic

Once upon a time, the quarterback of the New York Giants was a scaled-down titan in the land of giants, the passer who won more NFL games in his first nine seasons (98) than Brady, Manning or any other all-time great. This is a fact worth remembering and celebrating because 36-year-old Russell Wilson might be making the final start of his NFL career Sunday against Dallas, a franchise that has completely dominated the Giants.

Wilson could buy himself a little more time with a throwback performance on the road. He could follow up his alarming loss to Washington in his 200th career regular-season start by going on one last run that holds off Jaxson Dart, the swaggering first-rounder out of Ole Miss who seems as ready to play as Wilson did out of Wisconsin in 2012. Or Wilson could look old and slow against Dallas and compel his desperate coach, Brian Daboll, to act on his self-preservation instincts while also giving the fans what they apparently want.

LT Andrew Thomas taking part in practice​

LT Andrew Thomas back at practice today. Brian Daboll said he’ll do some team drills today #giants pic.twitter.com/AhOWG24Q33

— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) September 11, 2025

Which 0-1 NFL teams need a win most? | CBSSports.com


Jobs on the Line: The Giants, meanwhile, have a quarterback whose job could be on the line — and that of their coach and general manager could soon be as well. The calls have already started for Jaxson Dart to start over Russell Wilson, even with New York’s absurdly tough upcoming schedule. If Wilson looks lost again this week against the Cowboys, those calls will only get louder. And if Brian Daboll doesn’t make a change, people will start calling for his job next.

2025 NFL Trade Block Big Board Entering Week 2 | Bleacher Report


6. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, New York Giants. New York will find it virtually impossible to keep all three of its top pass-rushers long-term. Thibodeaux is slated to be a free agent in 2027, one year before Carter becomes extension-eligible. There should be no shortage of teams looking for a pass-rusher with Thibodeaux’s upside.

The Oregon product won’t bring the high-level haul that the Dallas Cowboys got for Micah Parsons, but New York should expect a quality Day 2 draft selection. Projected Trade Value: 2026 2nd-Round Pick

This week’s opponent​

Dak Prescott can win his 14th straight vs. Giants on Sunday, second-longest streak ever | Pro Football Talk


Prescott has won his last 13 starts against the Giants, and if the Cowboys beat the Giants again on Sunday to make it 14 in a row, he’ll have the second-longest winning streak for a quarterback against one opponent in NFL history.

Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese, who won 17 consecutive starts against the Bills from 1968 to 1979, has the all-time record. Prescott could tie Griese’s record if the Cowboys sweep the Giants both this year and next year.

2025 NFL defensive line rankings ahead of Week 2: Steelers stumble, Commanders surge | PFF


Despite losing Micah Parsons, the Cowboys’ defensive line made plays against the dominant Eagles offensive line. Their 12 run stops led the league, as the wealth was spread among five different players, each accumulating two run stops. Osa Odighizuwa’s 74.1 and Marshawn Kneeland’s 73.1 respective PFF run-defense grades were the tops on the unit.

Trevon Diggs ‘felt good’ in return for Cowboys, still ramping up | DallasCowboys.com


His pitch count last Thursday was expected, and he wants to continue to take steps before rushing back to being on the field full-time in order to prevent another injury.

“Still working,” Diggs said. “Just a little bit more [snaps] than last week is best and the smartest and safest thing to do. I feel like just increasing it a couple more plays and just working my way slowly.”

Around the league​


Chiefs’ Xavier Worthy returns to practice. Could he play Sunday vs. Eagles? | The Athletic

Ed Oliver did not practice Thursday due to ankle injury | Pro Football Talk

Vikings LB Blake Cashman to IR, out at least next four games | ESPN.com

John Lynch on Mac Jones: I’m excited to see him go show what he can do | Pro Football Talk

Grant Delpit makes bold claim ahead of Browns-Ravens: ‘Not hard’ to tackle Derrick Henry | NFL.com

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Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...-ir-cam-skattebo-andrew-thomas-more-headlines
 
NFL Week 2 picks, predictions: Can the Giants finally beat the Cowboys?

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Here are this week’s NFL Week 2 picks from the Big Blue View staff, along with explanations for our New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys selections.

Tony DelGenio​


BBV readers know I’m an optimist. After the Giant offense’s wretched performance last week, though, I’ve entered “show me” mode. The Cowboys are a team in transition. The old days of dominating OLs Zack Martin, Tyron Smith, and Travis Frederick are gone. Now they have three first-round Tylers (Smith, Guyton, Booker) who are OK but not dominant. The old days of dominating edge rushers Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence are gone. Now they have Dante Fowler Jr. and Sam Williams, who are good but not dominant. In an alternate universe where the Giants’ defense dominates and their offense is competent, they’d win these battles on both sides of the ball. In the real universe, though, the Giants’ best hope is for a draw, and in the interior, now Dallas’ strength with Osa Odighizuwa and Kenny Clark, a draw against the Giants’ Swiss cheese IOL would be a gift. Russell Wilson is 5-1 vs. the Cowboys but hasn’t seen them since 2020, and passing under pressure wasn’t his strong suit last week. Meanwhile, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens match up well with the Giants’ non-ball-hawking defensive backs. I’ll make two predictions. First, Dallas will use the first-round picks they got for Parsons to draft two more offensive linemen named Tyler. Second, the winner of the game will be…

Pick: Cowboys

Chris Pflum​


As I said prior to Week 1, I won’t be picking the Giants to win until they show that they actually can win. Not just have the most points when the final whistle blows, but actually play competent football and beat their opponent. The Giants will need their pass rush to continue to show up against the Cowboys’ offense and help take the pressure off of their secondary against CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.

The big concern is on the offensive side of the ball. The Giants absolutely need their offensive line to step up and even just play to the level they did this time a year ago. There were breakdowns across the unit, some of them absolutely glaring for what’s supposed to be a veteran unit. At the same time, the skill position players need to execute better and make themselves available for Russell Wilson.

Once again, I think this is a game that the Giants can win. I’m not picking them to win, and right now I’m not even sure I can pick them to play competitive football until they show they can.

Pick: Cowboys

James Hickey​


Week one is a liar. Always has been.” — Kyle Brandt.

That is where the hope lies this week. You look at last week’s game and it is hard to fathom that the offensive line is a mess again. No matter the resources that are allocated to fixing the problem, this issues exist to a point where the offense becomes non-functional not matter who is at quarterback, wide receiver or running back. The blame must go to the players first and nothing will change until Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz and Greg Van Roten do their jobs.

But play calling can help as well— move the quarter back out of the pocket, where was the screen gam that was so effective in the preseason, or get others involved on the passing game not named Malik Nabers.

On the defensive side of the ball, I think if you hold the Washington offense to three scores, you did your job. But, again, allowing a team to get a first down when it is 2 and 19 late in the game washed that all away. Yes, they must use Abdul Carter more and yes, the inability to stop the running game on first and second down negates their biggest strength. But the Giants are in the situation they are in because of a lack of production on offense, not defense.

Dallas is not a great team, but a good one. They played well against Philadelphia. To that end, I think this is a bit of trap game for them with a new coach and their home opener. The Giants offense will show that Week 1 was a lie and have success throwing the ball against a Cowboy secondary missing a key piece in CB DaRon Bland. It will be some nail biting in the end, but the Giants come away with a win.

Pick: Giants 24, Dallas 20

Valentine’s View​


I thought I would be picking the Giants to win this game. I wanted to, in fact, I still want to. After the way the Giants played on Sunday against the Washington Commanders, and with 15 losses in 16 game to the Cowboys, I just can’t.

The Giants were atrocious on offense and not nearly as good as they need to be on defense in Week 1. The NFL is a week-to-week league and things can change quickly, but I am going to have to see the Giants put together a much better performance before I pick them to win a game.

Pick: Cowboys

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...tions-can-the-giants-finally-beat-the-cowboys
 
Why did the Giants claim ex-Jet WR/KR returner Xavier Gipson?

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The New York Giants have kick returner/reserve wide receiver Gunner Olszewski, a player they like and trust, on their 53-man roster.

They have Ihmir-Smith Marsette, a kick returner/wide receiver who did an excellent job for them last season after Olszewski went on Injured Reserve, on their practice squad. They also have Dee Williams, a cornerback who returned punts and kickoffs for the Seattle Seahawks last season, on their practice squad.

So, why did they claim kick returner/wide receiver Xavier Gipson after he was waived by the New York Jets this week?

“We like the talent,” Giants head coach Brian Daboll said on Friday. “We’ll give him some chances out here as we get going next week and see where he’s at.”

Gipson, 24, averaged 8.9 yards on 68 punt returns and 26.0 yards on 44 kickoff returns over two seasons plus one game with the Jets. He was released by the Jets after fumbling a kickoff in the fourth quarter of the Jets’ 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1. Gipson, in fact, has 10 fumbles in 148 touches as a returner and receiver.

“Someone we take a look at. We liked him,” Daboll said. “I know [GM] Joe [Schoen] and his staff and [special teams coordinator Michael] Ghobi [Ghobrial] liked him, so we’ll take a look at him.”

Ghobrial, in his second season with the Giants, was assistant special teams coordinator for Jets when Gipson was a rookie in 2023. Gipson averaged 9.7 yards on punt returns and 23.2 on kickoff returns that season. He also caught 21 passes that season, but only has six receptions since.

Even though Daboll referenced next week as when the Giants would really begin to ramp Gipson up, there might be an opening for him to contribute on kickoff returns this week.

The Giants used wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson as one of their two kickoff returners in Week 1 against the Washington Commanders. That was Robinson’s first appearance as a kickoff returner since 2019 at Nebraska. Robinson, the Giants’ starting slot receiver, has been limited this week by an ankle injury and is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Even if Robinson plays, the Giants might not want to expose him to extra hits on kickoff return. So, Gipson could fill that spot.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...nts-claim-ex-jet-wr-kr-returner-xavier-gipson
 
New York Giants elevate 2 players from practice squad

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The New York Giants are elevating defensive tackle Elijah Garcia and linebacker Swayze Bozeman from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.

This is the second straight elevation for Garcia. He played six snaps last week against the Washington Commanders, with one tackle. Defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches is doubtful with a foot injury he apparently suffered in practice this week.

Bozeman was elevated to give the Giants linebacker depth. Micah McFadden was placed on IR this week with a foot injury, with his place on the 53-man roster taken by wide receiver/kick returner Xavier Gipson. Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles has already been ruled out due to a calf injury he aggravated in practice during the week.

Bozeman played in three games for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 after going undrafted out of Southern Miss. He played seven defensive snaps and 57 special teams snaps for the Chiefs.

Left tackle Andrew Thomas made the trip. Thomas, still recovering from a 2024 Lisfranc injury, is listed as doubtful to make his season debut.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...-giants-elevate-2-players-from-practice-squad
 
Brian Daboll: ‘You’re going to hurt for 24 hours, that’s for certain’

New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson against the Dallas Cowboys


The New York Giants couldn’t quite close out a win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2.

They had plenty of opportunities to do so despite giving up 160 yards in penalties. There were eight scoring plays over the course of the fourth quarter as the score rocketed from 17-16 to 37-37 in the span of 15 minutes of game clock. By rights, the Giants’ 48-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to Malik Nabers with :25 left should have been a game-winning dagger.

HAND ON HIS FACEMASK. WHAT A CATCH BY MALIK NABERS. pic.twitter.com/Z2jD6xYDp3

— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025

Teams just can’t plan for the third-longest field goal in NFL history being successful as time expired.

“That was a tough one. Battled back and forth and the guys left it all out on the field. Tough result,” Giants’ head coach Brian Daboll said after the game. “I mean, you’re going to hurt for 24 hours, that’s for certain. The guys put a lot into it, They left everything out on the field. I respect them a great deal for that.

“Credit to those players,” he added. “You want to get the results that you hope for. Came up short. Let it sit for 24 hours and then you move on.”

The Giants and Cowboys have played many, many memorable games, but this one was an instant-classic — even with the loss. It was a truly wild ride with twists and turns as the game pivoted on a dozen (or more) little moments. A fouth-down drop by Cam Skattebo, a fantastic open-field tackle by Dru Phillips, Wan’Dale Robinson proving he can be a deep threat, then failing to run to the open field in overtime, penalties that were, or weren’t called, all played their roles.

“I think there’s two types of penalties,” Daboll said. “There’s jumping off sides and false starts, and then there’s aggressive penalties. I think you have to be smart, whether you’re putting a guy down on the ground. … After-the-fact hit the quarterback late. Again, we’ll take a look at some of those and see what they are, but it’s a lot of penalties that we had.”

He added “Obviously that’s too many and we’ll work to correct it.”

The Giants’ penalties are one of the big stories of the game, as it felt like the Giants should have been up about 28-3 at halftime if it wasn’t for those penalties.

The play of Russell Wilson, however, is even bigger. Wilson reminded the NFL world just what he’s capable of when the offense has the confidence to let him attack the defense.

Wilson was accurate and precise to just about every part of the field and dissected the Dallas defense.

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The 36-year-old quarterback turned in his most prolific performance since 2017 just a week after calls sounded from the media and fans alike for him to be replaced by rookie Jaxson Dart.

“I don’t really think Russ worries about that, to be honest with you,” Daboll said. “I think he’s done this for so long, you know, it’s going to come with the territory being the quarterback in this league. It was business as usual for him during the week. He was preparing and studying, doing all the things at practice. The other stuff that comes with it, I don’t he focuses on that.”

For his part, Wilson responded in the manner to which we’ve become accustomed since becoming the Giants’ quarterback.

“I don’t need outside praise or criticism to convince me of what I’m capable of,” he said. “It’s not me, it’s really just the grace of God for what’s he’s given me. I thank Him for the ability to be on this platform every day, every time and the highest of highest best moments and some of the tough ones. One of my favorite scriptures is James 1:2 – consider it pure joy through the trials and tribulations. Sometimes, you go through some stuff and it’s just pruning you to be a better and tougher, to have that mental toughness, to be able to be neutral amidst the praise and the criticism and all the other stuff that comes around with it. Much is given. Much is required. So, you just to keep answering the bell.”

Wilson also took the opportunity to praise his teammates for how they played through adversity and kept answering.

“We kept responding,” he said. “We kept answering. I thought that Malik (Nabers) played an incredible game. I mean, this guy is special. The plays that he was making…Wan’Dale (Robinson) had a tremendous game. (Darius) Slayton made some big plays for us when we needed it. The line did a tremendous job giving me time. Credit those guys. You know, we needed one more play, one more moment to make a big play.

“But I just think the fashion in which we fought… you know, I love sports. I love watching greatness. I love watching people be relentless,” Wilson said. “I love watching boxing, for example, we’re in a 17 round fight. We battled in the first round and second round. We’ve got more to do. So, I was just proud of how we needed to be able to answer the way we did. I’ve been a part of a lot of crazy games. I don’t know if I’ve ever been part of one that crazy with that much grit.”

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...-going-to-hurt-for-24-hours-thats-for-certain
 
Fantasy Football ‘25: Waiver Wire, Week 3 Edition

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Browning to the rescue?

Welcome to the Fantasy Football Waiver Wire for Week 3. For a lot of fantasy managers, the focus this week is going to be at the QB position. Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels, Brock Purdy, Justin Fields, and J.J. McCarthy all suffered injuries before or during Week 2 and there’s a pretty good chance that none of them will play in Week 3. Burrow is out until at least Thanksgiving, and that’s the biggest blow for fantasy managers. The good news is that there are some decent options at QB, which I’ll get to.

The Process: Each week, I try to identify the top Waiver Wire targets and evaluate the short- and long-term prospects of those players. I also do my best to reveal which players who are coming off a big week are fool’s gold. Finally, I look at streamers who might help you in a pinch (this is usually more important during Bye weeks). Note that I’m writing this column BEFORE the two Week 2 Monday night games (TB@HOU, LAC@LV)

Some players discussed won’t be available in your league. I try to list players who are available in more than 50% of leagues. But what does that even mean? A 10-team league with six bench spots will have a much larger Free Agent pool than a 14-team league with eight. Most leagues fall somewhere in between. This isn’t “one size fits all.” By way of example, I won’t list Trevor Lawrence, Quinshon Judkins, Rasheed Shahid, or Cedric Tillman this week, among others who probably aren’t available in any of your leagues. All are priority pickups if available.

Two quick words about Week 3 waivers, and I’m more or less copying and pasting from last week’s column: (1) If you’re in a league that uses FAAB bids to process waivers, remember that your dollars are worth more right now than they will be later, since you could be using them to buy players for almost the entire season, potentially; and (2) People overreact to Weeks 1 and 2, and they do so every year. Keep an eye on who gets dropped this week, and especially rookies who’ve done very little so far. You might be able to scoop up someone else’s discarded treasure. An example from last season: Mark Andrews basically did nothing for the first five or six weeks, was dropped by many, and ended up leading all TEs with 11 touchdowns. You might see frustrated Andrews managers dumping him this week. Ditto Matthew Golden.

WEEK 3 BYES: NONE

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Week 3 Waiver Wire

Quarterback:


The availability of QBs is going to vary widely between 1-QB and Superflex leagues. Players like Daniel Jones, Michael, Penix, Jr., Geno Smith, Aaron Rodgers, Bryce Young, and Cam Ward aren’t going to be available in most Superflex leagues, but should be in a lot of 1-QB leagues. They’re the obvious places to start if you’re stuck due to injury (or otherwise) in a 1-QB league. Jones would be my top choice here as he’s been a beast (QB3 on the season heading into tonight) through two weeks, but we’ll have to see if it’s real. Regular Big Blue readers are no doubt skeptical.

Others to consider if you’re scrambling in a Superflex league include Russell Wilson (the drag on him is mainly the uncertainty around how long he’ll be the starter), Jake Browning (who averaged 19 fantasy points per game and was a borderline Top-10 QB when he started for an injured Burrow across the last eight games of the 2023 season), Mac Jones (we’ve seen Kyle Shanahan do this before with backup QBs, and Jones had a big game this past Sunday), Spencer Rattler, Carson Wentz, and Marcus Mariota.

I’d prioritize them roughly in this order. I particularly like Browning given the situation and the likely long tenure as starter. It really depends how long you think you’ll need the help. No, I don’t think the Bengals are going to trade for Jameis Winston or another player to step in front of Browning. I do think they’ll add a backup to Browning though.

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Running Back:

There are a few names to recommend coming out of Week 2.

Bhayshul Tuten took advantage of Tank Bigsby’s absence and makes for a nice stash right now. He’s the only back on the roster that was drafted by the current regime and is one of several rookies who could keep carving out a larger role. Cam Skattebo fits that bill as well. Like Tuten, he scored his first career TD this week, and notably, he garnered a larger share of snaps and touches than in Week 1.

With Austin Ekeer done for the year, both Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez should get added work behind presumptive early-down back JCR, but this could be a messy backfield all year.

Cleveland used all three backs in Week 2, but I’ll again recommend rostering Dylan Sampson. OK, that’s three rookies, but I do think this is a year where several rookie backs will emerge as the season goes along. Trey Benson, Blake Corum, and Kyle Monangai (another rookie) are stashes that I like longer-term. All three saw meaningful snaps and touches in Week 2 (although the Bears got blown out, so factor that in). One more rookie to consider is pass-catching specialist Woody Marks.

Tyler Allgeier and Tyjae Spears are two season-long stashes I like, if you have the room.

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Wide Receiver

It’s not a great crop, but here are a few names to consider adding if you’re stuck:

Hunter Renfrow scored twice in Week 2, but remember that Jalen Coker should be back in a few weeks, so I’d temper expectations and probably wouldn’t chase that performance.

Wan’Dale Robinson, on the other hand, is someone I would take a serious look at, as a WR3 or Flex option and especially in Full PPR. Through two games, he’s got 14 catches for 197 yards and a TD on 18 targets, and is the clear #2 pass-catching option on a team that’s throwing a lot, and not playing particularly good defense. He caught 93 balls on 140 targets last season, so this kind of usage isn’t new.

Christian Kirk should be back in a week or two, and C.J. Stroud needs him. I was high on him this offseason and think he’ll be a WR3/Flex type with upside once healthy.

Titan’s rookie Elic Ayomanour has the opportunity to emerge as the clear second receiving option on his team and is worth a roster spot.

Others to consider for depth: Dyami Brown, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims, Jr., Troy Horton, Joshua Palmer, and Malik Washington. Washington could have nice value if Tyreek Hill is traded, and especially in leagues that reward return yards.

Tight End:

I’ll repeat three names from last week. Juwan Johnson, Harold Fannin, Jr., and Brenton Strange are all worth adding, and I’d prioritize them in that order. Johnson and Zach Ertz are seeing significant target share on their teams. Ertz takes a hit if Jayden Daniels misses time, but I’d still add him if you need help at TE.

It sounds like Isaiah Likely is close to returning. If you’re a believer (I am), grab him now, before he gets expensive.

PK and D/ST Streamers, Week 3: (ranked outside the Top-15 for the week):

PK:
J. Parker Romo (@CAR), S. Shrader (@TEN), E. Pineiro (vs. ARI).

D/ST: IND (@TEN), ARI (@SF).

That’s a wrap. Good luck with your waiver claims!

***This column appears each Monday right here at Big Blue View. Each Thursday, my weekly fantasy preview with my rides, fades and sleepers (start/sit) appears here, and on Fridays you can find my weekly Giants Props of the week, also right here. ***

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/fantasy-football-2/136754/fantasy-football-25-waiver-wire-week-3-edition
 
New York Giants add veteran LB Neville Hewitt to practice squad

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After a rash of injuries at the inside linebacker position, the New York Giants have reportedly signed veteran inside linebacker Neville Hewitt to their practice squad.

The Giants lost starting inside linebacker Micah McFadden to a foot injury in Week 1. He is on IR and is expected to miss much of the season. Backup linebacker special teamer Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles missed Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys with a calf injury. Darius Muasau, starting in place of McFadden in Week 2, suffered a concussion.

The Giants finished the game with special teamer Chris Board (14 snaps) and practice squad call-up Swayze Bozeman (5 snaps) filling the spot next to Bobby Okereke. Board suffered a chest injury during the game and has been placed on IR.

The array of roster moves is as follows:

Reserve/Injured:

LB Chris Board

Practice squad additions:

WR Dalen Cambre
LB Neville Hewitt
LB Curtis Jacobs

Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad:

LB Swayze Bozeman

Terminated (by club) from practice squad:

TE Qadir Ismail
DB Patrick McMorris

Hewitt, 32, is in his 11th NFL season. He spent three years with the Miami Dolphins, three with the New York Jets and the last four with the Houston Texans.

Hewitt has played in 146 regular-season games with 48 starts. He has played more than 3,500 defensive snaps and 2,600 special teams snaps in his career. Last season, he played in 17 games with four starts for Houston, totaling 341 defensive snaps and 329 on special teams.

Cambre impressed with the team during the spring and summer but did not make the roster. Jacobs played in nine games with two starts for the New England Patriots last season. He was released by the Tennessee Titans at the end of the preseason.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...iants-add-veteran-lb-neville-hewitt-to-roster
 
Giants-Chiefs 2025, Week 3: Everything you need to know as Giants try to avoid 0-3 start

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Patrick Mahomes

The 0-2 New York Giants return to East Rutherford, N.J. for their home opener this Sunday night against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs, who have been in the last three Super Bowls and won two of them, are also stunningly 0-2 for the first time since 2014.

The Giants, for whom 0-2 is standard fare as this is the third straight season and seventh in nine years, they have started a season that way, are 5.5-point underdogs. The Chiefs have never lost three straight games with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback.

Dating back to last season, the Giants have now lost 13 of their last 14 games.

Kickoff on Sunday is at 8:20 p.m., with the game televised on NBC. It will also be broadcast on the Giants Radio Network, WFAN 101.9-FM, and affiliated stations.

Stay with Big Blue View all week as we give you all of the pre-game, in-game and post-game information.


Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...need-to-know-as-giants-try-to-avoid-0-3-start
 
Giants swap cornerbacks on practice squad

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The New York Giants made another change on their practice squad on Wednesday, signing cornerback/kick returner LaMareon James and releasing cornerback/kick returner Dee Williams.

James, an undrafted rookie out of Old Dominion and TCU, was released from the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad on Tuesday. The Browns on that day made a series of practice squad moves that included signing offensive tackles Tyre Phillips and Joshua Miles, both of whom were with the Giants last season.

James returned 58 kickoffs at Old Dominion, averaging 23.3 yards per return.

The Giants claimed Williams last December after he was waived by the Seattle Seahawks. He played in 12 games for Seattle and one for the Giants in 2024.

Practice squad roster​


LB Zaire Barnes
WR Dalen Cambre
DT Elijah Chatman
OLB Tomon Fox
DL Elijah Garcia
LB Neville Hewitt
OL Reid Holskey
C Bryan Hudson
WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
LB Curtis Jacobs
DB LaMareon James
G Jake Kubas
S Raheem Layne
PK Jude McAtamney
RB Dante Miller
DT Jordon Riley
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-york-giants-roster/136975/giants-swap-cornerbacks-on-practice-squad
 
Biggest takeaways from Giants coordinators ahead of matchup vs. Chiefs

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As the New York Giants prepare for their primetime Week 3 showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs, all three coordinators spoke about where the team stands — and what has to improve against one of the NFL’s toughest rosters.

Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka focused on red zone​


Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said the offense is close, but not there yet. “We just didn’t get the end result we wanted,” Kafka said. “There’s plenty to build on, but ultimately we’re looking for wins.”

He praised the offensive line for creating opportunities and pointed to his playmakers. “Malik [Nabers] made some big-time contested catches, Wan’Dale [Robinson] stretched the field, and Jaxson [Dart] got valuable snaps. Those are moments we can build on.”

Kafka also highlighted Cam Skattebo’s energy in the run game and backup lineman Marcus Mbow’s seamless fill-in role. Still, his message was clear — the Giants, who are 1 of 7 in the red zone, have to be better there.

“We’ve been talking about it all this week, really. We’ve got to get that cleaned up,” Kafka said. “There’s some execution things. There’s some things on my end I can do to help out. So I’d say there’s a number of things that we’re working through. And, again, we’ll practice those tomorrow and tonight and get a look at them. But I think we have some solutions, and so we’ll go work on them and get the answers for our players so that they can go out there and have a good game.”

DC Shane Bowen: “Penalties killed us”​


Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen stressed that penalties are killing the Giants. “Explosive plays and penalties — that’s where offenses thrive,” Bowen said. “We can’t put ourselves in those situations.”

He also addressed the cornerback rotation.

“Both [Cor’Dale] Flott and [Tae] Banks have shown growth. We’ll continue to mix them in depending on matchups.”

With Patrick Mahomes coming, Bowen was blunt: “In the red zone, we’ve got to find a way to get stops.”

Michael Ghobrial: Covering, returning kickoffs a focus​


Special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial praised Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s kickoff return spark after the running back averaged 26.4 yards on five returns Sunday against the Cowboys.

“It’s one opportunity to give a guy an extra touch, and he made the most of it, Ghobrial said.

On new arrival Xavier Gipson, Ghobrial added, “I’ve coached him before. Once he’s fully comfortable, he can make an impact.”

He also touched on the changing kicking game. “Sixty-plus yarders aren’t crazy anymore.” Gano looks like the Gano we all know.”

And with new kickoff rules, Ghobrial emphasized situational football. “Whenever you can pin them inside the 25, you’re feeling great.”

Looking at the Chiefs, Ghobrial closed with a warning: “Dave Toub’s [Chiefs special teams coordinator] units play with a certain style. We’ve got to be locked in, understand situations, and study our opponent.”

Looking ahead​


From Kafka’s demand for red zone efficiency, to Bowen’s focus on discipline, to Ghobrial’s special teams preparation, the Giants know the margin for error will be razor thin against Mahomes and the defending champs.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...iants-coordinators-ahead-of-matchup-vs-chiefs
 
Can Giants’ QB Russell Wilson play better against the Chiefs this time?

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The Kansas City Chiefs are an unfamiliar foe to the New York Giants, other than getting to watch them on TV in almost every Super Bowl. Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes has in fact only played the Giants once in his NFL career, and never at MetLife. (Mahomes was on the sidelines as a rookie the last time the Chiefs met the Giants at MetLife in 2017, a thrilling Giants overtime victory highlighted by Roger Lewis’ spectacular catch to set up the winning field goal.)

The good news: Unlike most Giants players, Russell Wilson is pretty familiar with the Chiefs, having played them as recently as Christmas Day last year.

The bad news: Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers lost to them, 29-10, in a game that was never really in doubt and that was probably his worst performance of 2024 (a Pro Football Focus passing grade of 51.8).

The Chiefs have some individual great players on defense, most notably defensive tackle Chris Jones, edge defender George Karlaftis, and cornerback Trent McDuffie. Still, they have been weak against the run this season (cold comfort to a Giants team that can’t run block), and their defensive front surprisingly hasn’t generated much pass rush.

We know what they can do on defense, however, since their defensive coordinator is Steve Spagnuolo:

Team coverage rates through Week 2

Via @FantasyPtsData pic.twitter.com/QopN7DjNmT

— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) September 16, 2025

The Chiefs have played man defense 35% of the time the first two weeks of the season, and 57% of those man snaps (20% of all snaps) have been zero blitzes – more than twice as much as any other NFL team. Overall, the Chiefs’ 43.9% rate on blitzes of all kinds leads the NFL:

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You can see from the chart above that their blitzes haven’t been all that effective: They’ve gotten pressure on only 10 of 29 blitzes, compared to second-place Denver’s 26 pressures on 30 blitzes. That may be one of the reasons the Chiefs are 0-2. Speaking of 0-2 teams, the Giants have also blitzed 29 times (30,5% blitz rate, 10th highest) and only gotten 13 pressures.

Russell Wilson fared well against the Kansas City blitzes, as he did in general last season:

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Wilson did fine when blitzed by the Chiefs, going 6 of 9 for 99 yards on that 25% of dropbacks. It was the 41.7% of dropbacks on which he was pressured, blitz or no blitz, that was the problem: 4 of 11 for only 35 yards and a measly 2.3 yard ADOT. The Steelers in general had trouble in the red zone, with a TD being called back by a penalty and then Wilson throwing an end zone interception.

Like most quarterbacks, Wilson doesn’t like being pressured. Like the good ones, he doesn’t mind being blitzed because he knows how to find the receiver who’s open because of the space vacated by the blitzer. Here are his PFF passing grades for the past decade sorted by no pressure/pressure and no blitz/blitz:

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Thus, Sunday night, the issue may not so much be whether Spagnuolo sends Nick Bolton or Trent McDuffie after Wilson. It will more likely be whether the Giants’ offensive line can hold off Jones and Karlaftis.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...lson-play-better-against-the-chiefs-this-time
 
Giants-Chiefs final injury report: Andrew Thomas could be a game-time decision

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New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas “had another good day” on Thursday, according to head coach Brian Daboll. Whether or not Thomas, who has not played since Week 6 of the 2024 season following surgery for a Lisfranc injury, makes his season debut Sunday night against the Kansas City Chiefs could be a game-time decision.

Since the start of the 2023 season, the Giants are 3-17 in games Thomas has missed due to injuries and 6-10 when he has been in the lineup. At 0-2, the Giants could use every available body Sunday against the also 0-2 Chiefs, who have represented the AFC in the Super Bowl in three consecutive seasons, winning twice.

James Hudson started the first two games for the Giants at left tackle. After his meltdown Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, Hudson seems unlikely to play. If Thomas can’t go, rookie Marcus Mbow is the likely option for the Giants at left tackle.

The Giants had a long list of players who did not practice or were limited on Thursday. When the full injury report comes out, we could see a number of Giants listed as questionable.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...t-andrew-thomas-could-be-a-game-time-decision
 
Giants coach Brian Daboll said to be ‘hanging on by a thread’

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Brian Daboll

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll is “hanging on by a thread” as his 0-2 team seeks its first victory of the season Sunday night against the Kansas City Chiefs, per a report for Sportskeeda from NFL insider Tony Pauline.

Pauline reported Friday that a source that Daboll and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, who was heavily criticized for his handling of the Giants’ overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys, are under fire.

Pauline, known mostly for his NFL Draft insights, wrote:

The mood in the locker room has changed from trying to stay upbeat to the realization that the team must win, and win soon, or both could be out the door before the season ends.

Pauline also reported that a lopsided loss to the Chiefs on Sunday could cause the insertion of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart into the lineup for Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Pauline added that “the saving grace for Daboll could be Jaxson Dart playing competitive football once inserted into the lineup then showing progress on the field.”

Valentine’s View​


I was in that locker room on Thursday and I am not sure Pauline’s characterization is entirely accurate. I have been in enough losing Giants’ locker rooms to know what it feels like when a team knows a season is lost. I did not sense that kind of resignation during my time around the players on Thursday. The room didn’t seem jovial or happy, but I did not sense that it was already defeated.

There have been some instances — on both sides of the ball — of players questioning what they have been asked to do. That does raise my antenna somewhat.

The Giants are now 9-27 since making the playoffs in Daboll’s first year as head coach. They are 1-13 in their last 14 games. Since a 6-1 start in 2022, the Giants are 12-33-1.

What do I think is going to happen?

I could absolutely see Daboll scapegoating Bowen and firing him if the defense continues to struggle. I don’t know who would be elevated from the staff to finish the season, but that would be a classic desperation move from a coach under fire.

I also don’t believe the Giants would fire Daboll without getting an extended look at Dart first. If the Giants reach 0-4, it should not surprise anyone if Dart is the starting quarterback by Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...rian-daboll-said-to-be-hanging-on-by-a-thread
 
Giants roster moves: LB/EDGE Tomon Fox signed to 53-man roster

New York Giants defender Tomon Fox rushes against the Atlanta Falcons


The New York Giants announced Saturday afternoon that they’ve signed defensive lineman and edge defender Tomon Fox to the 53-man roster amidst a flurry of roster moves.

Fox, a who originally signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent following the 2022 NFL Draft, was waived in the final cutdowns prior to the start of the regular season. He was quickly signed to the practice squad after passing through waivers, however, and now rejoins the main roster.

The Giants are likely signing Fox as an insurance policy with Chauncey Golston officially questionable with an ankle injury. Fox is a stout defender at 6-foot-2, 253 pounds, and is able to play as an edge defender as well as a defensive end.

The Giants have released WR Xavier Gipson in a corresponding roster move. This comes a week after the Giants claimed Gipson off of waivers from the New York Jets, though it seems likely that Gipson will be signed to the Giants’ practice squad, filling the hole left by Fox.

The Giants also announced that they are activating two other defenders, DL Elijah Garcia and LB Neville Hewitt, from their practice squad in a standard elevation.

This is the third time in three weeks that Garcia has been elevated from the practice squad, and marks the final time the team can do so without signing him to their 53-man roster. Garcia had 1 sack, 1 QB hit, and 1 tackle for a loss against the Dallas Cowboys, and the Giants might want to find room for him on their roster if he backs up that performance this week.

Hewitt, 32, was signed to the Giants’ practice squad earlier this week. He’s played in 146 games with 48 starts, has made 500 tackles and 7.5 sacks since signing with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent following the 2015 NFL Draft. The Giants have suddenly gotten very thin at linebacker thanks to injuries to Micah McFadden and Darius Muasau, so we could see quite a bit of Hewitt against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...ves-lb-edge-tomon-fox-signed-to-53-man-roster
 
Pre-game ‘things I think’: Giants’ season already at critical point

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While we wait for the Sunday night New York Giants vs. Kansas City Chiefs collision of 0-2 teams, and before I hop in my car for the trip to East Rutherford, N.J, here are some ‘things I think’ about the Giants in Week 3.

Season at a tipping point already?​


The Giants have started this season like they have started so many others over the last decade — losing their first two games.

  • They put up their annual Week 1 stinker in a 21-6 loss to a vulnerable Washington Commanders team that, in truth, did not do a whole lot on its own to win that game.
  • Despite the flash of a 450-yard passing performance by Russell Wilson, the lost a game they should have won to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. A defense that spit up four leads, an offense that flopped in the red zone and an overall lack of discipline that saw an astounding 21 penalties (14 accepted) called against the Giants were the culprits.

If 0-2 turns to 0-3 the MetLife Stadium mood could turn foul quickly. There might even be planes with not-so-nice messages flying about the stadium in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

There has already been a report that the jobs of head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen could be “hanging by a thread” after the first two weeks.

If the Giants fall to 0-3, Daboll could have only two heavy-duty cards left to play in an effort to keep his job.

He could fire Bowen, especially in the offensively-challenged Chiefs have a breakout game. The Giants’ defense has too much talent to play the way it has the first two weeks and to be a statistical bottom-feeder in most important categories. After last week’s defensive failure against Dallas, another one might be too much for a head coach under fire not to do something.

Defensive backs coach Marquand Manuel and defensive line coach Andre Patterson both have experience as coordinators.

The other card Daboll has to play is, of course, Jaxson Dart. The view here has consistently been that the longer the Giants could wait before turning to Dart the better it would be for the rookie quarterback. It still is.

If the Giants keep losing, though, there is simply no point in playing a 37-year-old quarterback who probably has no future with the team beyond this year. Plus, Dart looking like the real deal could be a major selling point in pitching to keep his job for the coach who pushed to draft him.

It isn’t too late for the Giants to have a decent season. In the words of Yogi Berra, though “it’s getting late early.”

The return of Andrew Thomas​


The likely return to action of left tackle Andrew Thomas is good news for the Giants. Since 2023, the Giants are 3-17 without Thomas in the lineup, 6-10 with him in it. The 6-10 mark isn’t great, of course, but it is competitive.

I would temper expectations for Thomas, though. First, while coach Brian Daboll said this week that Thomas has “played a lot of football,” he has not played in nearly a year and has done limited padded work. To think he will be in the form that made him a second-team All-Pro in 2022 is probably asking too much.

The Giants have been, and will continue to be, extremely cautious with Thomas. Franchise left tackles, especially proven 26-year-old ones, don’t grow on trees. Thomas is one. The Giants have him signed through 2029 and would like to get as much quality football from him as they can between now and then.

The immediate focus, of course, is on winning Sunday night avoiding an 0-3 start. The long-term focus, and the one that should be more important to both Thomas and the organization, is doing right by the player and having him as healthy as possible for the duration of his contract.

With that in mind, it won’t be any surprise if Thomas and Marcus Mbow split reps vs. the Chiefs. And, I would be perfectly OK with that.

LT Andrew Thomas says he feels good after first 3 day stretch of practices but the focus is on how he recovers the next two days before decision on Chiefs game. #giants

“The focus is longevity.” pic.twitter.com/XdSohmLEeo

— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) September 19, 2025

What to do with Mbow?​


There has been a lot of speculation about what the Giants will or should do with impressive rookie Marcus Mbow now that Andrew Thomas is back and with Jermaine Eleumunor at right tackle.

Should they move Mbow to guard? Can he play center? Should they move Eluemunor to right guad and play Mbow at right tackle? Here are my thoughts on all three scenarios. And, yes, you may have read some of this in Saturday’s Big Blue View mailbag.

Mbow to guard. Right now, I’m not sure asking him to make that move mid-season is fair to the young man. First of all, to my knowledge he has taken zero snaps at guard since the Giants drafted him. We don’t see full practices during the season, so it is possible he has taken a few but we can’t know that for sure until or unless the Giants tell us that is happening.

The other question is whether that is actually a good place for him right now. He is 303 pounds and the primary question about him is whether he can handle strength and power. That question/weakness could be exacerbated until he adds some strength.

Mbow to center. I think this is a long-term possibility. Again, though, not right now. If Mbow is going to have a fair chance to adjust to center and play it well, it is the kind of thing the Giants would have to do from Day 1 of spring practices. It isn’t the kind of thing you can do to a rookie in the middle of the season and expect have a good outcome.

Eluemunor to guard, Mbow to right tackle. On the surface, this makes sense. Right tackle would be a good spot for Mbow, except that Eluemunor is established there and doing a good job.

Could Eluemunor play right guard. Sure. Could he do it any better than Greg Van Roten? Who knows? Eluemunor last played a bit of guard in 2022. The only time in his career he played a significant amount of guard was 2017. Eluemunor is also a pending free agent. Is he going to happily accept a position switch away from a spot he is playing well and might get him a nice paycheck next offseason? Probably not, unless a nice contract extension comes with it.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/valenti...think-giants-season-already-at-critical-point
 
Andrew Thomas expected to play for Giants on Sunday night

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Andrew Thomas is expected to make his 2025 debut Sunday night when the New York Giants face the Kansas City Chiefs, per Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.

The Giants have been extremely cautious with Thomas, a 26-year-old franchise left tackle who is signed through 2029. That is expected to continue Sunday, as Thomas is likely to undergo a pre-game workout to be certain he feels ready to play.

Giants coach Brian Daboll had indicated on Friday that a decision on Thomas “is probably going to go all the way up until game time.”

It is fair to wonder if the Giants will expose Thomas, who practiced three straight days for the first time since his injury in preparation for Sunday game, to a full 65-70 snap workload. A rotation of sorts with rookie tackle Marcus Mbow, who stepped in at left tackle in Week 2 after James Hudson was benched, is a possibility.

Here is Thomas on Friday talking about playing vs. the Chiefs:

LT Andrew Thomas says he feels good after first 3 day stretch of practices but the focus is on how he recovers the next two days before decision on Chiefs game. #giants

“The focus is longevity.” pic.twitter.com/XdSohmLEeo

— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) September 19, 2025

Thomas admitted last month that this has been a “tough recovery” for him.

“It’s just a tough injury for heavier guys,” Thomas said. “You’ll have projections of when they think you’ll be back, but for bigger guys, a lot of times it just takes longer.”

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...s-expected-to-play-for-giants-on-sunday-night
 
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