News Giants Team Notes

[New York Giants]

Giants’ placekicking job a ‘week to week’ decision

Jude McAtamney converted on two short field goals and an extra point in place of injured placekicker Graham Gano on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. With veteran placekicker Younghoe Koo on the team’s practice squad, New York Giants special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial would not commit on Thursday to McAtamney keeping the job.

“Although Jude did a really nice job for us and excelled with everything we were asking him to do, I think ultimately, you still treat that like a competition and every week is a new week,” Ghobrial said. “We’ll take a common-sense approach as we have more discussions as a coaching staff later in the week.”

Sunday’s game was McAtamney’s second in the NFL. He was on the Giants’ practice squad last season and kicked in one game as a replacement for the injured Gano. Koo, 31, was recently released by the Atlanta Falcons. He has kicked in 93 regular-season games, and has made 181 of 211 field-goal attempts (85.8%).

Koo just joined the Giants last week.

“Koo obviously is a very accomplished kicker and there’s still an acclimation period where that guy has to get used to the operation of snap and hold, obviously,” Koo said. “The more time on task, I think that transition could happen for him. I think Jude just obviously having been here, understood the operation time a little bit more and we just felt like he gave us the best chance to win that week.”

Gano, on Injured Reserve with a groin injury, has to miss at least three more games. How the placekicking situation evolves will be worth watching.

Tae Banks, return man​

The Giants surprisingly debuted cornerback Tae Banks, the team’s first-round pick in 2023, as a kickoff returner on Sunday against the Chargers. It doesn’t sound like Sunday’s kickoff return appearance, during which he had returns of 33 and 21 yards, will be a one-off for Banks.

The Giants have rotated kickoff returners next to Gunner Olszewski this season, using Wan’Dale Robinson, Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary and Banks. Those four players have had 16 return opportunities. Opposing teams have kicked to Olszewski just one time.

Ghobrial said Banks, who is splitting cornerback reps with Cor’Dale Flott, could “potentially” be the answer to the return rotation.

“We’ll have more conversations at the end of the week, but Tae is definitely a guy that could do it at a high level for a long time,” Ghobrial said.

Banks is 6-foot, 197 pounds and ran a 4.35 40-yard dash before the 2023 NFL Combine.

“Tae is obviously a gifted athlete. He has the elite top-end speed. He has the frame that you’d want in a returner and he showed us that he has good ball skills,” said a smiling Ghobrial when asked about using Banks as a return man. “The ability to have good catch mechanics is always number one priority for me as a returner. The second thing, when the run skill shows up and the frame shows up and the speed shows up, you’re like, okay, this guy has a chance to do it. He’s done it before in his career of just playing football.

“He showed us a lot of promise throughout training camp, through these past few weeks, and it was cool to see him get a couple explosives last week. He was fired up to do it and there’s also something to be said about a player that genuinely wants to be back there and do it. He’s well-liked by his teammates so there’s something to be said about the guys wanting to block for him as well. So, it was cool to give that guy an opportunity and cool to see him have success.”

The sum total of Banks’ return experience is one kickoff return for 19 yards at Maryland in 2022. He played some wide receiver in high school, but if he returned kickoffs there are no stats I could find that prove it.

So, how did this come about?

It happened when Banks, insistent he could catch and return kickoffs, proved it to Ghobrial by jumping into a kickoff drill and smoothly catching kickoffs off the JUGS machine. If you think that’s easy, watch NFL players who aren’t familiar with it try to catch them.

“It was probably a few months ago, our returners were catching off the JUGS machine and he kind of came up to me. He’s like, ‘You know I can do that.’ I said, ‘Don’t tempt me right there,‘” Ghobrial said. “Because obviously he has the skill set to do it and then he was back there just catching it very free and easy. I was like, okay, let’s start working with him a little bit more and that’s something obviously he had a lot of success with on Sunday.”

From the sounds of it, that won’t be the last time we see Banks in that role.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...ants-placekicking-job-a-week-to-week-decision

 

[New York Giants]

Giants injury updates: ‘Fluid’ situation at safety for Sunday

Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (illness) was held out of practice on Thursday for a second consecutive day by the New York Giants. The biggest injury issues for the Giants heading into Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints might be at safety.

Tyler Nubin, who did not practice on Wednesday due to a groin injury, was expected to “do something” at practice on Thursday, according to head coach Brian Daboll. Daboll said he was “hopeful” that Nubin would be ready for Sunday.

Dane Belton (shoulder) and Jevon Holland (neck) were limited in practice on Wednesday.

Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said the situation at safety is “pretty fluid right now.”

“Getting a lot of guys reps out here right now,” Bowen said. “It’s a myriad of things with Dane, with him being banged up, with Nubin. I think it’s probably gonna be day by day for a lot of these guys. It might take until Sunday morning to figure out who is going to be up.”

Bowen pointed to reserve safety Beau Brade, practice squad safety Raheem Layne, and even practice squad cornerback/emergency safety Nic Jones as players who could factor in on Sunday.

“As a coaching staff we’ve got to have contingency plans for all that stuff,” Bowen said.

Tyrone Tracy (shoulder) also did not practice. Greg Van Roten, who had a rest day on Wednesday, returned to practice.

Thursday injury report​

Giants​

Did not practice

DL Dexter Lawrence (Illness)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (Shoulder)

Limited participation

S Dane Belton (Shoulder)
DL D.J. Davidson (Foot)
DL Chauncey Golston (Ankle)
S Jevón Holland (Neck/Calf)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Sr. (Foot)
C John Michael Schmitz (Ankle)
OT Andrew Thomas (Foot/Rest)

Full participation

QB Jaxson Dart (Hamstring)
RB Cam Skattebo (Knee)
G Greg Van Roten (Not Injury Related/Rest)
QB Russell Wilson (Ankle)

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...-updates-fluid-situation-at-safety-for-sunday

 

[New York Giants]

Andrew Thomas feeling strong after return, focused on Saints

Andrew Thomas

New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas is back on the field and feeling good.

After missing nearly all of last season due to a Lisfranc injury that required surgery, Thomas started his second straight game in Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers, playing all 76 snaps. He admitted there was some “normal soreness” after the game but emphasized that his conditioning, not his health, was the bigger adjustment.

“If anything, my lungs were more tired than anything,” Thomas said. “It was a good game. We got the win, so I’ll just keep building on that.”

Thomas said he felt strong even in the second half, noting that the Giants’ up-tempo offense naturally puts added strain on the offensive line. “Being up-tempo, I think that puts stress on everybody up front,” he explained. “But we did a good job handling it. Got a lot of reps with that this week to make sure we’re ready to go.”

The Giants will need that readiness this Sunday when they visit the New Orleans Saints in what’s expected to be a hostile environment. Thomas stressed that communication will be critical for the line and quarterback Jaxson Dart.

“Communication is very important. We’ve got a lot of terms, a lot of motions, different things to get guys open,” Thomas said. “It’s important up front to get to the ball fast and make sure we’re aligned.”

Thomas praised Dart’s ability to step in and lead the offense with poise. “He’s making sure he’s communicating. He’s asking us how the communication is, things he can do to improve, and we’re all just working together to get on the same page.”

.@Giants @chargers @allforgod_55 played 100% of the snaps for the first time in almost a year….did you even notice? probably not! which is a good thing…He was nearly perfect in assignments and technique. Welcome back AT. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/j9ewU7GsTo

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 1, 2025

Looking ahead, Thomas knows the offensive line has room to grow, especially in the red zone and run game. Still, he called Sunday’s effort a step in the right direction.

“I guess you could say it’s the best because we won,” he said. “But selfishly, we’ve got to score more in the red zone, do a little bit better in the run game, and protect Jaxson better.”

This weekend, Thomas and the Giants’ front five will face a veteran Saints defensive front, led by experienced linebacker play and defensive end Cameron Jordan. Thomas said the key will be communication and execution against a group that’s been together a long time.

“They play a lot of different five-man fronts. It’s a veteran group. A lot of those guys have played a long time together,” Thomas said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re reading our keys and making our blocks.”

For Thomas, the mindset is clear: keep building on his return, stay healthy, and help the Giants keep winning.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...feeling-strong-after-return-focused-on-saints

 

[New York Giants]

Roster moves: Giants elevate PK, LB for Sunday’s game vs. Saints

The New York Giants are elevating placekicker Jude McAtamney and linebacker Neville Hewitt from their practice squad for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

This is the second straight elevation for McAtamney, who made two short field goals and an extra point last week in place injured kicker Graham Gano, who is on IR. The Giants also have veteran placekicker Younghoe Koo on their practice squad.

This is the third and final elevation for Hewitt. The Giants will have to add him to their 53-man roster after this week if they want to have him available on game days.

The Giants are not elevating wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey from their practice squad, or signing him to the 53-man roster. In fact, the Giants still have two openings on their 53-man roster after having placed wide receiver Malik Nabers on IR and waiving edge defender Tomon Fox, who was re-signed to the practice squad.

The Giants also announced that linebacker Demetrius Flanningan-Fowles has been ruled out of Sunday’s game.

Not filling those roster spots is likely a form of cap gymnastics from GM Joe Schoen. The Giants have just $1.683 million in salary cap space, per Over The Cap. That is last in the NFL.

The Giants will have to find a way to clear some cap space to get through the remainder of the year.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...ants-elevate-pk-lb-for-sundays-game-vs-saints

 

[New York Giants]

Giants vs. Saints, Week 5: How to watch, stream, listen, wager

The New York Giants travel to the Caesars Superdome this Sunday for a Week 5 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET, airing nationally on CBS, as Brian Daboll’s squad looks to build on last week’s win and climb back into the NFC relevance.

This will be the 34th all-time meeting between the Giants and Saints, with New York holding a slight edge in the series, 17–16. The teams last met in Week 14 of the 2024 season at MetLife Stadium, while the Giants’ most recent victory in New Orleans came on Oct. 3, 2021, in a 27–21 overtime win.

Fans will be watching closely to see how Jaxson Dart performs in his second start under center and whether the Giants’ offensive line anchored by Andrew Thomas can hold up against the Saints’ veteran defensive front led by Cameron Jordan.

How to watch​

Matchup: Giants vs. Saints
Date: Sunday, Oct. 5
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, La.
TV: CBS
Announcers: Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst), Jason McCourty (analyst), AJ Ross (sideline)
Streaming: NFL+ (subscription required) | Paramount+
Odds: Giants -3.5 (-110) [line subject to change]

How to listen​

Radio: WFAN 660 AM | 101.9 FM – Bob Papa (play-by-play), Carl Banks (analyst), Howard Cross (sideline), John Schmeelk & Tiki Barber (pre- and postgame)
Pregame: Giants Gameday, 11 a.m. ET (presented by Hackensack Meridian Health)
Postgame: Giants Extra Point

Follow us on social media​

BBV on X: Follow @BigBlueView
Ed Valentine: Follow @valentine_ed on X | @ed.valentine on Threads | @edvalentine on Bluesky
BBV on Facebook: Click here to like the Big Blue View Facebook page
BBV on YouTube: Subscribe to the Big Blue View YouTube channel
BBV on Instagram: Click here to follow our Instagram page

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...aints-week-5-how-to-watch-stream-listen-wager

 

[New York Giants]

Giants-Saints ‘Kudos & Wet Willies’: Giants give away a game they should have won

Christmas came early for the New Orleans Saints as the New York Giants gift-wrapped them their first victory of the season with five turnovers, a host of bad penalties, drops and other assorted mistakes. Let’s get to the ‘Kudos & Wet Willies,’ which I will do my best not to fumble.

Kudos to …​

Daniel Bellinger — It has been a looooong time since the Giants used Bellinger as a weapon in the passing game. Sunday, Bellinger caught four passes for 52 yards, including an 18-yarder on the opening drive that set up a first-and-goal at the 1-yard line the Giants converted into a touchdown. Bellinger also had a 14-yard catch for a first down on that drive.

It has been too long since the Giants remembered how reliable Bellinger can be when they throw him the ball.

Theo Johnson — The second-year tight end is developing a nice red zone connection with quarterback Jaxson Dart. Johnson caught touchdown passes of 1 and 15 yards on the Giants’ first two possessions. Per the CBS broadcast, it marked the first time the Giants had scored touchdowns on their two opening possessions since 2020. Johnson finished with six catches for 33 yards.

Jamie Gillan — A week after inexperienced placekicker Jude McAtamney hit a pair of kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, which come out to the 35-yard line, Gillan was kicking off. Gillan masterfully placed kickoffs that were returned to the 18 and 9-yard lines. He did hit one for a touchbacks, but that was only brought to the 20-yard line because it bounced in the landing area. Gillan also punted twice, with both being downed inside the 20-yard line.

Darius Alexander — The rookie third-round pick continues to show flashes of development. Sunday, Alexander had a tackle for loss and a pair of quarterback pressures.

Run defense — The Giants sprung leaks in the secondary, they committed several devastating penalties, and they had a serious case of butterfingers that led to three lost fumbles and a few costly drops. Finally, though, one problem they did not have was run defense.

The Giants seemed to play Dexter Lawrence on run downs, with rookie Darius Alexander often subbing in in passing situations. Defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches was also back in the lineup after missing three games with a foot injury.

The Saints gained just 88 yards on 30 rushing attempts (2.9 yards per carry), with a long run of only 11 yards.

Mike Kafka — This loss certainly was not due to the play-calling of the Giants’ offensive coordinator. Kafka used misdirection, wide receiver and tight end screens, a fourth-and-1 run by wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, mixed the run and the pass nicely, called a third-and-2 flea flicker that would have been a touchdown had it been properly executed by Dart. There isn’t much the offensive coordinator can do if his key guys are going to keep dropping the ball or throwing it the wrong colored jerseys.

Kickoff return — The Giants have found something on kickoff return as Tae Banks and Gunner Olszewski combined to average 32.0 yards on five kickoff returns.

As a cornerback, Banks continued to frustrate on Sunday. To his credit, though, Banks looks like the real deal as a kickoff returner. He had a 46-yard return right after the Skattebo fumble that was a placekicker Blake Grupe tackle away from being a touchdown that would have put the Giants back in the game. Banks averaged 37.5 yards on two kickoff returns.

With Banks next to him, the Saints kicked to Olszewski three times. He averaged 28.3 yards with a long return of 34 yards.

Wet Willies to …​

Darius Slayton — It was all downhill for the Giants after Slayton’s fumble with 1:13 left in the first half that turned a Giants’ scoring opportunity into a New Orleans field goal that gave the Saints a 16-14 lead they would never relinquish.

Slayton also couldn’t come up with a long Dart pass in the second quarter that would have put the Giants in the New Orleans’ red zone with a 14-13 lead. I’m not sure that play will officially be ruled a drop, but Slayton had both hands on it and it’s a play that needs to be made in order to win a game.

Giants defensive backs (except Jevon Holland and Cor’Dale Flott) — The early, unofficial Pro Football Focus post-game grades show Tyler Nubin, Paulson Adebo, Dru Phillips and Tae Banks as the Giants’ lowest-graded defenders. There is good reason.

• Banks committed a third-down defensive pass interference penalty that negated a Jevon Holland interception in Saints’ territory and led to a New Orleans field goal.
• Phillips gave up four receptions in four targets and committed his sixth penalty of the season, a 19-yard defensive pass interference penalty.
• Nubin was aggressive in run support, but was in coverage on a momentum-changing 87-yard touchdown pass to Rashid Shaheed on which Nubin’s lack of athleticism was badly exposed by the speedy Shaheed.

• Adebo gave up five receptions on seven targets and committed a 16-yard defensive pass interference penalty.

Jermaine Eleumunor — The veteran right tackle had a so-so day blocking, but did not help the cause by committing three penalties. Eleumunor had a holding penalty and two false starts.

Kwillies to …​

Jaxson Dart — The rookie quarterback had, to be honest, a rookie quarterback kind of day. He looked awesome the first two times the Giants had the ball, leading touchdown drives that resulted in 1 and 15-yard touchdown passes to Theo Johnson.

Then, he looked like a young quarterback with a lot to learn. He fumbled away a ball when he was untouched, failing to protect it while trying to scramble and having it slip out of his hand. He underthrew Slayton on a flea flicker that should have been a touchdown. He threw the first two interceptions of his NFL career, not that he can really be blamed for either with the Giants desperately trying to rally in the fourth quarter.

Dart was 11 of 16 for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. He want 15 of 24 for 92 yards and two interceptions in the second half.

Cam Skattebo — The bruising rookie ran well, with 15 carries for 59 yards (3.9 yards per carry). He caught six passes for 45 more yards, giving him 104 total yards on the day. Still, he had a critical fumble. On the first play of the fourth quarter, with the Giants trailing by five, 19-14, and facing second-and-7 on the Saints’ 12-yard line, Skattebo lost the handle. Jordan Howden of New Orleans scooped it up, took it 86 yards for a touchdown, and the Giants were in a hopeless scramble to try and come from behind the rest of the way.

Pass rush — The Giants put a lot of pressure on New Orleans quarterback Spencer Rattler throughout the game. NextGen Stats said the Giants pressured Rattler on 17 of 31 dropbacks (54.8%), but did not sack the second-year quarterback a single time. Abdul Carter had six pressures on 23 rushes, per NGS, but again came out of a game without a game-changing play. He has only a half-sack in five games.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/kudos-w...-giants-give-away-a-game-they-should-have-won

 

[New York Giants]

Giants news, 10/6: Reaction to Giants handing the Saints a victory

Good morning, fans of the 1-4 New York Giants! Here are your sad Monday morning headlines.

From Big Blue View​

• Giants-Saints ‘Kudos & Wet Willies’: Giants give away a game they should have won
• 4 things we learned from the Giants’ 26-14 loss to the Saints
• Instant grades: Giants get poor marks after Sunday’s ugly loss
• Final score: Giants fumble, throw away game to Saints, 26-14
• Russell Wilson trade rumors: Giants’ backup QB available, but not actively shopped
• Malik Nabers’ knee surgery set for this week

More headlines​

Cam Skattebo Apologizes to Giants Fans After Costly Fumble in Loss to Saints​

Sorry giants fans!!! I’ll be better for yall!!!! Love!!!

— cameron skattebo (@camskattebo5) October 5, 2025

Giants takeaways, report card from NFL Week 5 loss to Saints​

The Giants went down to the Bayou and stunk out the joint.

Ranking 5 straight NY Giants turnovers that were a ‘recipe for disaster’ in latest loss​

The Giants (1-4) turned the ball over on five straight possessions, one giveaway worse than the next, and as head coach Brian Daboll suggested afterward and as (Tyler) Nubin rightfully indicated, it’s nearly impossible at any level, especially the NFL, to survive that.

After awful Saints loss, Giants’ Jaxson Dart faces critical stretch that could define rookie year​

Dart tells teammates “this one is on me.”

Giants-Saints takeaways: Jaxson Dart falters after fast start, turnovers sink New York​

The New York Giants were unable to build on their first win of the season, committing five turnovers in a 26-14 loss to the Saints on Sunday in New Orleans.

Giants’ five straight turnovers a ‘recipe for disaster’ in 26-14 loss to previously winless Saints​

The Giants fumbled away a game, the optimistic vibes of their quarterback change and their season Sunday at a rocking Caesars Superdome.

Again. And again. And again.

An avalanche of five straight turnovers by Brian Daboll‘s offense did them in.

“I can’t say I’ve experienced that before,” left tackle Andrew Thomas said after a 26-14 loss to the previously winless New Orleans Saints. “But that’s a recipe for disaster.”

BBV mailbag​

Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to [email protected] and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag.

BBV YouTube​

You can find and subscribe to Big Blue View YouTube from the show’s home page

BBV on X: Follow @BigBlueView | Ed Valentine: @Valentine_Ed | Threads: @ed.valentine | Bluesky: @edvalentine
BBV on Facebook: Click here to like the Big Blue View Facebook page
BBV on YouTube: Subscribe to the Big Blue View YouTube channel
BBV on Instagram: Click here to follow our Instagram page

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...action-to-giants-handing-the-saints-a-victory

 

[New York Giants]

Giants vs. Eagles 2025, Week 6: Everything you need to know

After bumbling away a game in Week 5 against the previously winless New Orleans Saints, the New York Giants now get to go on national television Thursday night against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

The 4-1 Eagles have not played their best football so far this season, but their loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday was their only blemish so far. The 1-4 Giants kicked away a game they should have won on Sunday with turnovers on five straight possessions.

The Eagles are 7.5-point favorites, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

Dating back to the beginning of last season, the Giants are 4-18 in their last 22 games, a .153 winning percentage.

The status Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (hamstring) and running back Tyrone Tracy (shoulder) is uncertain. Saquon Barkley is on the Eagles’ injury report with a knee injury.

Stay with this StoryStream for all of the pre-game, in-game, and post-game coverage you need to be fully informed about Thursday’ matchup.

• Will Darius Slayton, Tyrone Tracy play for Giants vs. Eagles in Week 6?
• Giants notebook: Wide receiver and secondary issues, special teams, more
• What do the Giants do now at wide receiver?
• Eagles-Giants odds: New York expected to lose by more than a touchdown

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...thursday-night-football-what-you-need-to-know

 

[New York Giants]

Dexter Lawrence: ‘It’s go time, it’s time for war’

The New York Giants are entering the toughest stretch of the NFL’s toughest schedule this week as they prepare to take on the Philadelphia Eagles on just three days rest following their loss to the New Orleans Saints.

The Giants are depending on star nose tackle Dexter Lawrence to be the rock in the middle of their defense against the Eagles’ running game.

Recovery after the trip to New Orleans will be particularly important. It was noted during the game that Lawrence came off the field in situations in which he was normally a feature of the defense. In particular, the Giants relied on rookie Darius Alexander to be their interior pass rusher, while letting Lawrence handle the running downs. That likely had something to do with the fact that Lawrence, who did not practice last week due to illness, wasn’t at 100% for the game.

“A couple of times got a little lightheaded. But the sickness, it was kicking my butt all week, so that was expected,” he said. “Nothing too crazy, I think I had a good game plan going in, and I executed it well.”

Lawrence still isn’t completely recovered from the illness that knocked him out of practice before Week 5. But he said Tuesday that it didn’t matter. He noted that short weeks always compress players’ schedules.

“You’ve got to speed your recovery routine up,” Lawrence said, “like shove it into about three days instead of six. But at the end of the day, when you step on the field, it’s time to go, it’s time for war, and that’s the mindset, and that’s what it’s got to be to go out there and win.

“Just you’ve got to strap up a little earlier in the week, and that’s the only thing that’s different,” he added. “You’re still going to sleep the night before, you’re still going to wake up and put on your pads the day of the game. Just getting ready earlier through the week, and I think just taking care of your body on these days are important.”

‘Go out there and win’, that’s what Giants’ fans want — need — to see from there team. The Giants’ offense is very short-handed with Malik Nabers out for the season and Darius Slayton dealing with an injured hamstring. That means the defense will need to carry the day. The good news is that the Eagles’ vaunted running game has been anemic through the first five weeks of the season.

“We’ve got to stop the run. We understand that,” Lawrence said.

The goal for Lawrence is to ensure that his former teammate, Saquon Barkley, doesn’t get right this week.

“He’s Saquon Barkley, great running back. Just got to do well to attack his O-line, not let him get on our DBs and stay disciplined in your run lanes and I think we’ll have a good day.”

“It happens,” Lawrence said about Barkley’s production being depressed. “But you don’t want to be the team to let him get hot. So, you’ve got to stay disciplined Thursday and go win.”

The goal for the Giants’ defense is to take the ball out of Barkley’s hand and force Jalen Hurts to throw it. As Lawrence noted, the Eagles’ quarterback is among the league leaders in time to throw, thanks to his propensity to extend the play and try to find receivers downfield.

“That makes you have to be even more disciplined with your rush lane, because he’s looking for ways to escape, or he’s looking for a shot down the field,” Lawrence said. “Don’t just stand, have a motor, keep that motor going all play.”

And that’s been the big man’s advice for rookie Abdul Carter: Be disciplined, but keep your motor hot. Carter has been incredibly disruptive through five weeks, but doesn’t have the sack numbers to show for it.

“These guys, they’re a little selfish,” Lawrence said of NFL quarterbacks. “They’re going to throw that ball last minute or something, but it’s the way of the game, man. You’ve just got to keep going, and you can win fast, and he’s going to throw the ball. It doesn’t matter, so you’ve just got to stay honed in on your technique and keep grinding.

“The more you’re around a quarterback, that’s positive, and he’s around the quarterback a lot. You’re not going to always get the sacks that you want, but the more you can affect him and allow him to feel you, that’s positive, and that’s what you want. So, he’s just got to keep going and don’t grow weary, and I think that’s what he’s going to do. He understands game day is war day, so he’s got a good mindset.”

Ultimately, whether it’s defending the run or running down Jalen Hurts, Lawrence’s message was the same: Stay disciplined, stay active, go out there and win.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor.../dexter-lawrence-its-go-time-its-time-for-war

 

[New York Giants]

Darius Slayton, Jermaine Eluemunor could be game-time decisions for Giants on Thursday

Darius Slayton and Jermaine Eluemunor could be game-time decisions for the New York Giants on Thursday night when they host the Philadelphia Eagles.

Slayton, a wide receiver, left Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints with a hamstring injury. He has been listed as “did not practice” by the Giants each of the past two days. Eluemunor, who has a back injury, has also been listed as “did not practice.”

The Giants only held a walk-through on Tuesday.

“I’d say we’ll take it all the way up to the end like you usually do on short weeks,” said head coach Brian Daboll. “See where those guys are at, what they can do.”

Daboll did say “I think Jermaine will be OK.”

If Eluemunor can’t play, rookie Marcus Mbow is the likely choice to play right tackle.

The situation at wide receiver without Slayton is more dire. Jalin Hyatt and Beaux Collins were not impressive against the Saints. Gunner Olszewski is primarily a return man. Lil’Jordan Humphrey is still on the practice squad, and was not activated for last Sunday’s game.

The Giants, who still have only 51 players on their 53-man roster, will likely have to do something roster-wise to protect themselves at receiver.

Linebackers Swayze Bozeman (ankle) and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (hamstring) were also listed as “did not practice.”

Tyrone Tracy on track to return​

The Giants listed running back Tyrone Tracy, who missed the last two games with a separated shoulder, as a limited practice participant. Daboll said he was “hopeful” that the second-year back would play Thursday night.

“W’ll see where Tracy’s at,” Daboll said. “Hopefully he’ll be able to do something on Thursday night.”

Tuesday injury report​

Giants​

Did not practice

LB Swayze Bozeman | Ankle
T Jermaine Eluemunor | Back
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles | Hamstring
WR Darius Slayton | Hamstring

Limited participation

S Dane Belton | Shoulder
S Jevón Holland | Calf
S Tyler Nubin | Groin
CB Dru Phillips | Hip
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. | Shoulder

Full participation

QB Jaxson Dart | Hamstring

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...be-game-time-decisions-for-giants-on-thursday

 

[New York Giants]

Saquon Barkley: Giants ‘spit in my face’ during contract talks

Saquon Barkley’s bitterness toward the New York Giants and the business of the NFL shows through loud and clear in the new “SAQUON” documentary debuting Thursday morning on Amazon Prime Video. And, yes, the video was timed to coincide with the Giants facing the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday night on Prime.

Barkley’s belief that the Giants were just trying to use him up before sending him on his way was crystal clear in a phone conversation he had after a 35-carry game against the Houston Texans in 2022, when his contract had become front and center.

He called a conversation he had with the Giants prior to that game “a joke.”

“They literally spit in my face,” Barkley said. “And then give me the ball 35 times. They really don’t appreciate me. They’re literally just trying to run me into the dirt, get what they can and hopefully something bad happens so you can go somewhere else.”

Barkley did, of course, go somewhere else.

Here is another line from Barkley that indicated his frustration with the Giants:

“They just make me want to do some s— that’s not in my character … they keep telling me I’m the best running back in the NFL. So, pay me like I’m the best running back in the NFL.

“The game pushes you to be someone you’re not. They say don’t take business personal. But, it is personal. Everybody wants to be wanted. Whether you’re a 6-year-old kid or whether you’re a 27-year-old NFL star.”

Here are some of the takeaways from the 90-minute documentary, which I was able to preview on Wednesday.

Mara: Trade “makes no sense for us”​

At one point, just minutes before the negotiating window ended and Barkley would be forced to sign the franchise tag or sit out, he point-blank asked owner John Mara if he would allow GM Joe Schoen to trade him. The answer was no.

“No, Saquon. I’m not gonna do that,” Mara said. “That makes no sense for us. To be honest with you, it’s not going to be in your long-term best interest to do that. There’s no way that I would allow him to trade you at this point, no. I’m just being honest with you. You are too valuable to this franchise.”

Barkley’s closed eyes and body language on hearing that told you how he felt.

Mara told Barkley “we can agree to disagree on the numbers” but that “we’re going over and above.”

Barkley told his agent, Ed Berry, that “I feel trapped.”

“Are they trying to actually get this done?”​

Throughout the two offseasons the Giants and Barkley discussed a contract, it was clear that Barkley never really believed the Giants wanted to get a long-term deal with him.

That was clear after the Giants tagged him in 2022, when the two sides tried to work out a deal before the deadline that would force Barkley to play on the tag.

“All this is is the principle. I would sign for $11 million dollars, $10 million dollars if it was operated a whole different way,” Barkley said.

“Are they trying to actually get this done?

“Running backs have the shortest life span, which is not false. But, they’ll give you the ball 300 times and then say we can’t pay because of wear and tear on your body.”

A dark place​

Barkley remembers being in a bad place emotionally right before he tore up his knee against the Chicago Bears in 2021. He was angry after Giants legend Tiki Barber had said that Barkley “might not be an every down back” b/c of pass protection issues and that “He doesn’t want to hit anybody. He’s a big man who wants to play small.”

“I was in a place where I was not playing the game for the love of it.,” Barkley said. I was gonna force a great performance the next week. I even thought about buying a Tiki Barber jersey and wearing a Tiki Barber jersey after I go for 200 yards. All those idiotic and immature things were running through my head at the time. I’m gonna have the best game of my life.“

Then, the injury happened.

“I was just crying,” Barkley said. “I just wanted to throw up. I had to sit in the shower and just let hot water run down me for a good 20 minutes”

How much did Saquon actually want?​

At one point in the documentary, Barkley was clear that he felt like the best running back in the league and should be paid accordingly.

Barkley and GM Joe Schoen at one point went back and forth during a phone conversation with Barkley saying he wanted $14-14.5 million annually and Schoen insisting the Giants had “stretched” their budget to get to $13M.

“I don’t think there’s a better running back in the NFL right now. So, I should be paid as the highest running back in the NFL,” Barkley said.

“They keep telling me I’m the best running back in the NFL. So, pay me like I’m the best running back in the NFL. And I want a long-term deal. I deal that shows you see me as part of the future … if you do not see me in that, trade me.

“I just want to get paid what I can actually get paid.”

Barkley said that in the end he just did not feel treated fairly.

“I wasn’t going to try to break the bank. All I wanted was a fair negotiation. Not just my back against the wall, you use the tag deadline against me. Like, take this or not.”

Free agency​

As free agency approached, Barkley’s frustration with the Giants remained obvious.

“I’ve done nothing but represent this organization the right way. It don’t gotta be like this. It could be simple. It’s insane,” Barkley said. “I can’t go nowhere. And you know why I can’t go nowhere? I can’t go nowhere because I do it the right way.”

After signing with the Eagles Barkley said he did not want to sound like “the bitter ex.”

“All I wanted was an opportunity to go and see what I’m worth, and then match it,” Barkley said.

The Giants chose not to match the Eagles’ offer, of course.

Saquon knows he is in a better place​

Barkley, of course, ran for a historic 2,005 yards and the Eagles won the Super Bowl lat season. He knows that doesn’t happen if he stays with the Giants.

“Am I having an MVP-caliber season if I’m with the New York Giants this year? No. I year ago I was ass. I lost a step. I wasn’t this. Is he really worth it? Now I’m an offensive Player of the Year, MVP candidate,” barkley said.

Saquon’s daughter is a star​

Barkley’s daughter, Jayda, who said at one point before her daddy joined his new team that “I think you should be on the Eagles” is a star. Giants fans will hate it, but watching her lean into the camera and sing “fly, Eagles, fly” was endearing.

It was also fun to watch Barkley dote on Jayda and his youngest child, Saquon Jr. It was a reminder that these athletes, no matter how rich or famous, have lives away from the game and people that are important to them.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...-giants-spit-in-my-face-during-contract-talks

 

[New York Giants]

Giants Reacts Survey Week 6

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Giants fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Heading into Week 6, we want to know how you’re feeling after watching the team so far this year. Every week of the season we will ask fans if they are confident the team is headed in the right direction and more of the most pressing questions facing the coming game. Let us know what you think!

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/general/139836/giants-reacts-survey-week-6

 

[New York Giants]

4 things we learned from the Giants’ 34-17 victory over the Eagles

I entered this game not considering a New York Giants victory over the Philadelphia Eagles as a possible outcome. That’s sad, because I do feel that the Giants’ talent has been upgraded this season, while the Eagles’ has either diminished a little, or been out of sync thus far, or some of both. Thus my pre-game thinking for this post focused on a few smaller questions:

• With Jalen Carter out, could the Giants run the ball effectively against the Eagles’ defense?
• With Landon Dickerson out and the Eagles’ offensive line as a whole not being quite as impressive as in years past, could the Giants’ defense somewhat neutralize Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts?
• Could Jaxson Dart figure out a Vic Fangio defense (made more difficult by the absence of Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton)?

Well, I’ll be darned.

The Giants defeated the Eagles for the first time since Tyrod Taylor defeated them, 27-10, in the meaningless final game of the 2023 season. This game was anything but meaningless. Let’s look at a few reasons why.

The defense came to play​

I know, I know, you want to focus on the offense. But the defense was a huge part of the Giants winning this game. Brian Burns is having a monster season. With three dangerous edge defenders on this defense, Burns is leading the pack with his play. He had another two sacks tonight when the game still hung in the balance. In addition he had three solo tackles and four assists. The Giants’ interior run defense was better last week than it had been, and it was really solid tonight, holding Saquon Barkley to 58 yards on 12 carries and the Eagles overall to 73 yards on 20 carries. The Eagles’ OL was not at full strength, but this was still the best run defense we’ve seen from the Giants this year. Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Dexter Lawrence each had four assisted tackles. It also took four consecutive tush pushes (plus the referees not flagging their guards for moving before the snap) for the Eagles to get into the end zone on one of their TDs. Ultimately, limiting the effectiveness of the running game is the way to beat the Eagles.

The secondary looked shaky in the first half. Paulson Adebo had a rough time with A.J. Brown, but how many cornerbacks don’t? Dallas Goedert was a thorn in the Giants’ side as always. But the second half was different. The Giants shut the Eagles out for an entire half with the game on the line. Dru Phillips helped force one of the Eagles’ fumbles, and Cor’Dale Flott made the secondary’s biggest play of the season, intercepting Hurts in the second half when the Eagles were driving. Flott (I think) played the entire game tonight, as Shane Bowen finally jettisoned the rotation with Deonte Banks. It’s no accident that the Giants’ two wins this season have also been the defense’s best efforts.

I’m not sure what Jaxson Dart is, but whatever it is, he’s effective​

Tonight was easily the best of Dart’s three starts so far. His scrambling ability is much more of an asset that I thought it would be at the NFL level. The great thing is that when he takes off, he keeps his eyes downfield for an opportunity to pass. Tonight he frustrated the Eagles several times by completing passes after he began scrambling and looked like he’d be hemmed in. When he does pass, he is throwing with anticipation, and he’s fitting the ball into tight windows. I haven’t decided whether he’s ever going to be a guy who routinely throws for 250-300 yards a game, even when he gets a full complement of good receivers. Right now, though, he is presenting a real problem for opposing defenses. He just has to make sure he stays away from injuries.

Speaking of good receivers …​

I was as forlorn as any Giants fan thinking of them facing the Eagles’ pass defense without Malik Nabers or Darius Slayton. Admittedly, the Giants were helped tonight when Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell went out in the first half with an injury.

Unlike last week, though, which truly made me wonder how many wide receivers would catch any passes the rest of the season, the receiving corps stepped up tonight. Wan’Dale Robinson had one of his best games as a Giant with six catches in seven targets for 84 yards, including a 35-yard TD in which he caught a ball near the sideline for a first down, and then instead of just going out of bounds, made a move inside to undress safety Andrew Mukuba and go in for the Giants’ second touchdown. Lil’Jordan Humphrey stated his case for becoming this season’s version of what Isaiah Hodgins was for the Giants in 2022. Humphrey had four receptions in eight targets for 55 yards, including one for 34 yards. His first reception was the type of 50-50 ball that only a true X receiver can go up and get. Humphrey also hustled and made a nice downfield block on an Eagles defender which allowed Robinson to reach the end zone on his TD. Why it took the Giants until this week to make him active and get him on the field is beyond me.

I also have to single out Jalin Hyatt. He didn’t have a big night, but he did have three catches in five targets for 17 yards. Until now, including last week, the Giants have mostly used him on deep balls, and while he had some success with that in his rookie season, he’s been almost completely absent in the stat sheet, and it seemed his days as a Giant would be numbered. Tonight though, he came up big during the crucial drive of the game. The Eagles had started to take over the game in the second quarter after the Giants took an early 13-3 lead and had gone up 17-13 after the quadruple tush push. Dart then led the Giants on a 15-play, 67-yard drive to put the Giants up 20-17 before the half, a lead they would never relinquish. Just before the two-minute warning the Giants faced third down. Miss it and the Eagles would have gotten the ball back with a chance to extend the lead at the half. Instead, Hyatt came back toward Dart and caught a contested ball in tight coverage for a first down just inside the Eagles’ 30. He then caught a pass on the next play for 6 yards at the two-minute warning. That drive ended with a Cam Skattebo TD that gave the Giants the lead for good. In the fourth quarter, after the Flott interception set the Giants up deep in Philly territory, Hyatt drew pass interference on Kelee Ringo in the end zone, setting up another Skattebo TD that created the final 34-17 score.

I would argue that this was Hyatt’s most meaningful contribution since the deep ball he caught from Jones in Arizona early in 2023 when it looked like the Giants were going to lose to the Cardinals.

Did the Giants get one of the best running backs in the 2025 draft?​

This year’s draft is looking pretty good already, with Abdul Carter (who had a quiet night stat-wise but was very active), Dart, Darius Alexander, who has started getting quarterback pressures, and Marcus Mbow, who played some good ball when he replaced James Hudson early in the season before Andrew Thomas’ return.

Cam Skattebo, though, has probably exceeded everyone’s expectations. It was helped by Tyrone Tracy’s injury, but Skattebo has become the Giants’ RB1 sooner than I think anyone expected. I really thought he’d be a change of pace back as a rookie and that they would use him a lot in the short passing game. I was wrong. He’s the battering ram of the offense. Coming into this game he was already fifth among rookie running backs with 242 yards (in fewer carries than three of the four ahead of him). Tonight he, along with Dart, was the offensive star, with 98 rushing yards (plus 12 passing yards) and three TDs.

The Giants’ poor run blocking doesn’t look so poor when Skattebo gets the ball. He bounces off tackles, bowls over over tackle attempts, and keeps pushing and dragging defenders for extra yards. He’s like mini-Brandon Jacobs. I do think that in the long run the Giants should limit his usage a bit so he doesn’t wear down, but what has happened is that he and Dart have created an identity for the offense that hasn’t existed since Jacobs and Jeremy Shockey were around. Granted, Jalen Carter didn’t play, so put an asterisk on it. Still…

The bottom line on all of this is that this Giants team could easily be 4-2. They’ve beaten the Eagles and the Chargers. They should have beaten Dallas, and they could have beaten New Orleans with less sloppy play. It’s amazing how perceptions can change so quickly. Do the Giants suddenly have a home field advantage?

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...from-the-giants-34-17-victory-over-the-eagles

 

[New York Giants]

‘Things I think’: Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo might be leading Giants out of the wilderness

Wooooooooooooo!

The New York Giants might have something here.

The Giants have searched for years to try and find the right people and players to lead them out of the morass they have been in for more than a decade and bring the franchise back to the prominent place a four-time Super Bowl champion and an original NFL franchise should have.

They have been through three GMs, nearly a half-dozen head coaches and multiple roster rebuilds while only having fleeting, occasional, success.

In rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo the Giants might — finally — have the players not only with the talent but with the attitude, energy and will to pull them up from the depths and set them back on a better course.

That was certainly the case on Thursday night when the Giants, 1-4 and coming off a loss to the previously winless New Orleans Saints, defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Check that. The Giants not only beat the Eagles, they demoralized them in a shocking 34-17 beatdown.

Players who have been through some of the recent losing seasons with the Giants, and the public flogging from the media and the fan base that has come with it, recognize what the dynamic rookie duo bring to the table.

“Their energy is contagious – Skatt and Dart, they’re playing fearless. And that’s something I really respect,” edge defender Brian Burns, who has played the best football of any Giants defender this season, said after Thursday’s game. “I hope that as they get older, they age well in this league and they’re going to make more calculated decisions. But right now? Hey man, balls to the wall.”

Cor’Dale Flott, who made one of the biggest plays of the game with a fourth-quarter interception that he returned 69 yards to set up the Giants’ final touchdown, also used the word “contagious” when talking about Dart and Skattebo.

“It’s contagious,” Flott said. “Jaxson and Skatt are two different guys, they don’t even feel like rookies in the locker room. We need the energy, and they help us all out as a team.”

The Giants have been through a period of more than a decade where losing and bad football have been the norm. Dart said he and Skattebo have felt the weight of that even though they weren’t involved in it.

“We can’t be naive to everything. We hear what people say. Definitely lights a fire in us,” Dart said after Thursday’s victory. “Me and Skatt talked about – like last week we talked about it was on us losing that game.

“I just think there’s, at times, some negativity that’s surrounding here. For us, some of the new guys that are coming here, we just got here, so we don’t feel like we were involved in the past. We’ve got a lot of winners on this team, guys who come out every single day, work their (butt) off to put on a good showing on Sundays. I feel like we’re just connected. We just had some games, times and those moments where it hasn’t gone our way. We do feel like we’re a really good team, we have really good players. We’re just trying to win games.”

Skattebo said he and Dart are focused on changing the franchise’s fortunes.

“We do a lot of things on the side together, talk a lot together about getting this turned around,” Skattebo said. “Not doing it on our own, but getting everyone to buy in and continue to stay positive and work to be better.

“The franchise has been a losing franchise the last couple years, but that’s not who we are right now. We need to continue to build and build and build each and every day and have these guys with positive mindsets and get away from that losing mindset.

Skattebo said he “felt the confidence” from his teammates throughout the game on Thursday.

“Everyone else is buying in, we’re pushing each other, everyone’s holding each other accountable and we jsut have to continue that as a team,” Skattebo said.

“I think the entire team feeds off Skatt and Dart’s energy, the way they play the game,” said veteran offensive lineman Jermaine Eleumunor.

Dart took some hits on Thursday and left the game briefly for a concussion check, but Eluemunor said he believes Dart “feeds off” taking, and delivering, hits.

“I think he can be truly special once we truly get this thing going,” Eluemunor said, adding that the rookie is “really good at making something out of nothing.”

Daboll said Dart is “a leader.”

“I’ve liked everything about Dart since we got him,” Daboll said. “Again, it’s not perfect. Not gonna be perfect, whatever it may be. But he’s got toughness, I think he sees the field well, he’s got athleticism, vision, leadership.

“He leads by his play, he leads by his words, he leads by his emotion, he leads by his loose plays. Glad he’s my quarterback, our quarterback. Again, he’s a rookie. As one of my mentors once said, Let’s not give him a gold jacket right now. Coach Parcells. But he’s a good young player to work with.”

The Giants have now beaten a 4-0 Los Angeles Chargers team and a 4-1 defending Super Bowl champion Eagles team in their last two home games.

“We feel like anytime we go out there on the field, anybody we’re playing against, we have a chance to win,” Dart said. “Doesn’t matter what Vegas says. It doesn’t matter what the spread is. I was watching Pat McAfee, they are talking about the point spread of who is going to win the game. We don’t care about that stuff. We feel like we’re confident to go out there, put on a good performance, and win games.”

Those victories, of course, were separated by a loss to a previously winless Saints team in New Orleans. That should remind everyone that things won’t turn around overnight for this Giants team.

“Me and Skatt just have a lot of talks. We sat next to each other on the plane back [from New Orleans],” Dart said. “It definitely hurt us last week a lot because we felt like we absolutely should have won that game. We had talks during the week. We just kept telling each other we got each other; we’re going to lay it all on the line each and every play for each other. We try to message that to our teammates as much as possible.

“We know everybody is going to rally around each other the more we have performances like this. We can’t get too high; we can’t get too low. The most important thing is the next play, the next moment. For us it’s going to be this next game.”

What does beating the defending Super Bowl champions on national television, especially doing so decisively, show the Giants?

“It shows us how good we can be, and how if we’re on our details and on our execution and playing together all three phases we can beat anybody,” said safety Tyler Nubin. “Gives us a lot of confidence, but it also shows us that when we’re not locked in anybody can beat us as well.”

Nubin, a 2024 second-round pick, said there is “100 percent” a different attitude within the Giants this season from a year ago when the team went 3-14.

“I don’t think we’re focused on anything but winning this year,” Nubin said.

Nubin credited Dart and Skattebo, but added Daboll has also been a factor.

“The tone that Dabs set in the offseason and the tone that he’s continued to preach — we’re gonna go win, we’re not just gonna go play, we’re gonna try to go win a game,” Nubin said. “I think the energy he’s brought and the energy the new guys have brought definitely have turned it from what it was last year.”

Maybe, just maybe, years from now Giants fans will remember the drafting of Dart, Skattebo and Abdul Carter, who had a quiet night against the Eagles but is still an extraordinary young player, as what finally turned the fortunes of the franchise.

“It’s a long season, so we have to bring it every single day. We have to try to keep that the culture. We have to stack wins. We can’t have performances where we play really good, next game we turn the ball over five times. That stuff can’t happen,” Dart said. “We have to try to be consistent. From an attitude perspective, it’s kind of the energy we’re just trying to bring here. The intensity of coming to work every single day. I think guys are trying to do that and rally around each other.”

Dart wants to be part of erasing the negativity that has dogged the franchise.

“I love it,” he said. “I understand the most important thing for everybody is winning. As competitors, that’s how we feel, too. I feel like this city is starving for that. We are starving for that. We hate losing. It’s the worst feeling in the world. We just try to do our best, regardless of what outside noise is, we try to keep everything internal between us. I have all the confidence in the world in every single player on this team. We’ve just got to try to do our best to rally and stay consistent.”

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/valenti...might-be-leading-giants-out-of-the-wilderness

 

[New York Giants]

Giants news, 10/10: Giants beat defending champion Eagles, Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, more headlines

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View​

• Final Score: Giants stun Eagles in statement win, 34-17
• Instant grades for Giants’ stunning rout of Philadelphia Eagles
• Giants injuries: RT Jermaine Eluemunor expected to play vs. Eagles
• NFL Week 6 picks, predictions: Does anyone believe in the Giants?
• Roster moves: Giants sign LB Neville Hewitt, K Jude McAtamney, elevate WR Humphrey
• Giants-Eagles pre-game ‘things I think’: Changes, potential roster moves, more
• Fantasy Football ‘25: Week 6 preview – Start/sit and more
• Giants Reacts Survey Week 6

Other Giant observations​

Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo power Giants to dominant win over Eagles | New York Post​

The faithful fans, who were loud and made a difference Thursday night at MetLife Stadium, needed this. Everyone needs some positive reinforcement at least once in a while.

And the Giants earned it in spades on this night, upsetting the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles 34-17 in a result that must have tasted like expensive champagne, even though it was a mere Week 6 game in the middle of October and it lifted the Giants’ record to just 2-4.

Cam Skattebo Hulking up post game​

Cam Skattebo is pumped after tonight’s win pic.twitter.com/E18OMs1MP8

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 10, 2025

Andrew Thomas on what Jaxson Dart’s scrambling ability brings to the offense​

Andrew Thomas on Jaxson Dart's scrambling:

"He's live by the sword, die by the sword. He's a mobile quarterback, especially at home we can hear the crowd get loud once he starts to scramble" pic.twitter.com/eFf8EmaNTr

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 10, 2025

Giants’ Brian Daboll apologizes for sideline reaction during Jaxson Dart’s concussion check | The Athletic​

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart briefly exited the game against the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter, and coach Brian Daboll was heated on the sideline as he awaited an update on his new starter’s status.

“Look, if you’ve ever been on an NFL sideline, there’s a lot of emotions,” Daboll said at his postgame news conference. “And I certainly am an emotional guy. I apologized directly to our team physician. I just wanted (Dart’s) ass out there — if he was OK — but I wanted the process … like, we were getting ready to go for it on a potential fourth down. I would’ve burned a timeout if he could’ve came out there, so I was asking, ‘How long is it going to take?’

“Winning games is the best feeling in the world,” the youngster said. “When you can do it at a high level and beat them by 17 points, that’s something that we take pride in and we have to continue to build on that, we’re still 2-4. We still have to go out there and win the next one and win the next one and the one after that, so I’m excited for the future and I can’t wait.”

Brian Burns every bit the game-wrecking force Giants need him to be | New York Post​

Burns made seven tackles and added two more sacks to his co-league-leading total Thursday and was every bit the game-wrecking force that he was acquired to be in March 2024. When Cor’Dale Flott had the interception that essentially sealed the win, Burns was pressuring Hurts from the backside and drew the chip block from Saquon Barkley.

Dexter Lawrence on the importance of a home win​

"For us it's important to win at home, we want the support to keep coming out and we know we've got to win for that to happen"

– Dexter Lawrence pic.twitter.com/Jy636pK3KX

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 10, 2025

Cam Skattebo ‘excited’ for Giants’ future after commanding upset win over Eagles | SNY.tv.com​

“Winning games is the best feeling in the world,” the youngster said. “When you can do it at a high level and beat them by 17 points, that’s something that we take pride in and we have to continue to build on that, we’re still 2-4.

We still have to go out there and win the next one and win the next one and the one after that, so I’m excited for the future and I can’t wait.”

NFL Rookie QB Checkup: League Sources Weigh In on 3 First-Year Starters | FOX Sports​

The Giants are going to need more out of their franchise quarterback than that, though. He’s putting on a brave face in the face of his first adversity, but Dart’s play needs to quickly improve. And it won’t be easy, with No. 1 receiver Malik Nabers out for the season and No. 3 receiver Darius Slayton battling injuries.

“[Nabers] was everything to that offense,” an NFC scout told me. “He doesn’t have a lot of dangerous weapons without him. Dart really has to carry them now. They didn’t ask him to do a lot in his first game (11-of-20, 111 yards), and then he tried to do too much in his second game. Look, clearly he thinks he can make things happen. He’s not afraid to run right into the defense (19 carries, 109 yards). He’s not afraid to throw into coverage. He’s not afraid to change things on the fly and direct his receivers if he thinks he can make a play.

“All that is good, but the downside is the turnovers you saw in New Orleans. When young quarterbacks start feeling themselves and gain their confidence, they can get reckless. That’s not unusual. But the key for the Giants is to balance that: How do they rein him in without completely reining him in, you know?”

Jaxson Dart still has a lot to prove, but Giants’ offense is playing to his strengths | The Athletic​

In both of his NFL starts, Dart has been too slow with his eyes. It’s not uncommon to see him get stuck after his first or second read, leading to panic and unnecessary scrambling. Some of those decisions have resulted in big plays, but they’re really not sustainable.

Daboll has done a nice job crafting game plans that accentuate Dart’s strengths while trying to keep him out of bad spots. Dart was an underrated runner at Ole Miss, so it’s no surprise we’ve seen several successful designed runs early (even if he needs to take better care of himself at times). Dart made just enough plays versus the Chargers, but he had a rough outing against the Saints.

2025 NFL rookie running back reports: Jeanty, Judkins, Skattebo | ESPN.com​

To be fair, the Next Gen Stats model doesn’t see Skattebo getting the same caliber of opportunities as other backs. Their running back model projects that an average back with Skattebo’s touches and blocking would generate 3.6 yards per carry, a figure he narrowly tops right now. In terms of expected yards per carry, just eight of the 33 other backs we’re comparing these rookies to have faced more difficult situations. Skattebo has generated 11 rush yards over expectation this season, suggesting he’s basically getting what’s being blocked.

His best work this season has really come as a receiver. He has caught 28 passes for 143 yards and generated 1.8 yards per route run, the latter mark ranking fifth among all backs and just ahead of dual-threats like Barkley, De’Von Achane and Jahmyr Gibbs.

Around the league​

QBs Lamar Jackson (hamstring), Kyler Murray (foot) sit out practice again | NFL.com

Terry McLaurin did not practice Thursday | Pro Football Talk

Jaguars get Greg Newsome, ship Tyson Campbell to Browns | ESPN.com

Shedeur Sanders in a ‘great mental space’ as he awaits Browns’ backup QB decision | The Athletic

Chiefs’ Chris Jones takes accountability for not finishing on Jaguars’ game-winning touchdown play | CBSSports.com

BBV mailbag​

Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to [email protected] and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag.

BBV YouTube​

You can find and subscribe to Big Blue View YouTube from the show’s home page

BBV on X: Follow @BigBlueView | Ed Valentine: @Valentine_Ed | Threads: @ed.valentine | Bluesky: @edvalentine

BBV on Facebook: Click here to like the Big Blue View Facebook page

BBV on YouTube: Subscribe to the Big Blue View YouTube channel

BBV on Instagram: Click here to follow our Instagram page

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...agles-jaxson-dart-cam-skattebo-more-headlines

 

[New York Giants]

Draft prospects for the Giants in college football Week 7

Good morning New York Giants fans!

Happy Saturday and welcome to Week 7 of the college football season. This is a week in which we’ll be circling back to check in on some teams that we’ve already looked at this year. NFL scouts routinely visit the same schools in their area two or three times in a season to get a look at prospects against different opponents. It also gives them an opportunity to get a feel for their development over the course of a year.

And we’ll be doing that for the same reasons. We’ve looked at three of today’s highlighted teams already this year, but that also gives us a good baseline to look at their opponents.

This year has been a chaotic one for college football, but we also have some great opportunities to look at some under-the-radar prospects against good competition.

(17) Illinois vs. (1) Ohio State​

Fox – noon

We just looked at Ohio State two weeks ago (Week 5, against Washington), but we haven’t checked in on Illinois since Week 1 and this is a great opportunity to do so.

I’ll start out by saying that my usual advice applies for stacked teams applies to Ohio State in this game. Watch, enjoy, and take note of which players jump off the field. There will be NFL players at pretty much every position for the Buckeyes. Giants fans might want to pay attention to WR Carnell Tate, given the current state of the receiving corps.

Players to watch​

(17) Illinois

• Luke Altmyer (QB – 9)
• J.C. Davis (OT – 74)
• Tanner Arkin (TE – 85)
• Gabe Jacas (EDGE – 17)
• Xavier Scott (DB – 14) * Scott is listed as questionable for the game

(1) Ohio State

• Carnell Tate (WR – 17)
• Max Klare (TE – 86)
• Kayden McDonald (iDL – 98)
• Arvell Reese (LB – 8
• Sonny Styles (LB – 0
• Davison Igbinosun (CB – 1)
• Caleb Downs (S – 2)

(3) Oregon vs. (7) Indiana​

CBS – 3:30 p.m.

Once again, we just checked in on Oregon in Week 5 (against Penn State), but we haven’t looked at Indiana yet this year. This is a fantastic opportunity to look at Indiana against one of the top teams in the country. This is going to be “must watch” scouting tape for the Hoosiers, so it’s a good idea to get a familiar now.

This could also be a preview of the 2026 NFL Draft, as both Oregon red-shirt QB Dante Moore and Indiana junior Fernando Mendoza are in the running to be the first player off the board in April. I don’t like to predict red-shirt sophomores as draft prospects until they declare (and I tend to prefer they stay in school for more development before they go to the NFL), but Moore has been generating a ton of buzz this year.

Players to watch​

(3) Oregon

• Dante Moore (QB – 5)
• Isaiah World (OT – 76)
• Kenyon Sadiq (TE – 18) *questionable
• A’Mauri Washington (iDL – 52)
• Matayo Uiagalelei (EDGE – 10)
• Dillon Thieneman (S – 31)

(7) Indiana

• Fernando Mendoza (QB – 15)
• Pat Coogan (OC – 78)
• Carter Smith (OT – 65)
• Elijah Sarratt (WR – 13)
• Mikail Kamara (EDGE – 6)
• D’Angelo Ponds (CB – 5)

Texas vs. (6) Oklahoma​

ABC – 3:30 p.m.

Of course we have to talk about the Red River Rivalry game. This could have been one of the biggest games of the season and THE biggest game of the day. In some ways, it still is one of the biggest games — it’s certainly one of the biggest rivalry games on the schedule, even with Texas falling off a cliff this year.

Arch Manning has been nothing short of a colossal disappointment this year, and has completed just 60 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Really, it’s not a terrible performance for a player in his first year as a starter and who attempted just 95 passes since high school, 3 years ago. But for a Manning who was expected to be The Next Andrew Luck… He’s fallen well short of expectations.

That said, Texas still has plenty of NFL talent on their roster, and Oklahoma has a very talented team in their own right. QB John Mateer will likely be in the conversation at the top of the QB depth chart this spring, and they have good players on both sides of the ball.

Players to watch​

Texas

• Arch Manning (QB – 16)
• Trevor Goosby (OT – 74)
• D.J. Campbell (OG – 52)
• Jack Endries (TE – 88)
• Anthony Hill Jr. (LB – 0)
• Malik Muhammad (CB – 5)
• Michael Taafe (S – 16)

Oklahoma

• John Mateer (QB – 10)
• Jaydn Ott (RB – 0)
• Deion Burks (WR – 4)
• Gracen Halton (iDL – 56)
• R. Mason Thomas (EDGE – 32)
• Sammy Omosigho (LB – 7)
• Robert Spears Jennings (S – 3)

(9) Texas Tech vs. Kansas​

Fox – 7:30 p.m.

We’re circling back for a second look at Texas Tech as well after a first look back in Week 4. The Red Raiders have a potent pass rushing duo, and while the Giants don’t really need more pass rushers, it’s a good position group to get a feel for. Not only are they fun, but Texas Tech also has very good defensive tackles and linebackers who could appeal to the Giants.

Giants fans could also look at the Jayhawks’ interior offensive line for potential late-round values in center Bryce Foster and guard Kobe Baynes. Wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson could be interesting as well after transferring from Alabama to Kansas.

Players to watch​

(9) Texas Tech

• Davion Carter (OG – 56)
• Skyler Gill-Howard (iDL – 0)
• David Bailey (EDGE – 31)
• Romello Height (EDGE – 9)
• Jacob Rodriguez (LB – 10)

Kansas

• Jalon Daniels (QB – 6)
• Bryce Foster (OC – 61)
• Kobe Baynes (OG – 70)
• Emmanuel Henderson (WR – 2)
• Dean Miller (EDGE – 5)

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...cts-for-the-giants-in-college-football-week-7

 

[New York Giants]

Giants news, 10/11: Leadership of Dart and Skattebo, Andrew Thomas, Brian Burns, more headlines

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View​

• Giants-Eagles ‘Kudos & Wet Willies’: It’s true — the Giants routed the Eagles
• ‘Things I think’: Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo might be leading Giants out of the wilderness
• PFF grades and snaps counts from an impressive Giants victory over the Eagles
• 4 things we learned from the Giants’ 34-17 victory over the Eagles
• NFL investigating the Giants’ application of the concussion protocol
• Survey results: What a difference a week will make
• How to make sure Big Blue View shows up in your Google search

Other Giant observations​

Jaxson Dart, Giants hope win over Eagles shifts narrative | ESPN.com​

Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart viewed the New York Giants’ 34-17 win over the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium as a statement.

It snapped the Giants’ eight-game losing streak in the NFC East and was their first win over a defending Super Bowl champion since beating the Denver Broncos in Week 15 of the 1998 season. Message received.

Brian Daboll on the importance of Brian Burns’ leadership​

Brian Daboll heaps praise on Brian Burns for his leadership and his play this season:

"People look up to him…he's the true definition of what it means to be a leader. He does all of the right things, and he's talented." pic.twitter.com/q1KSiq63LY

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 10, 2025

Jaxson Dart: Giants fans are ‘starving’ for a winner, and he is here to give them one | The Athletic​

Daboll has been notoriously tight-lipped in news conferences during his four-year tenure. But he can’t hide his exuberance for Dart. That’s not a surprise since Daboll staked his career on the 22-year-old, benching Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson three games into the season and making sure the world knew it was “my decision.”

Daboll tried to catch himself and slip back into coach-speak a few times after Thursday’s win, making sure to point out that the victory wasn’t about one player and that the whole team played an important role. But he couldn’t help himself, always returning to shower more affection on the quarterback he fell in love with during the pre-draft process. “I’ve liked everything about Dart since we got him,” Daboll said.

The real Brian Daboll showed up as Giants upset Eagles behind Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo | New York Daily News​

A different Daboll showed himself on Thursday, however: the real Daboll. The one who went for the two-point conversion in Tennessee in his first game as the Giants’ coach in 2022. The one who threw a tablet on the ground once after Daniel Jones threw an interception against the Seahawks.

He began returning to his true, unfiltered self in Week 4 when he benched Russell Wilson, put in Dart and announced it as “my decision” rather than a collective one….He is leaning into a street fighting mentality, into his occasionally uncontrolled emotion and into his gut instincts about when it’s time to turn up the volume. His fire can light up the team in a good way, or it can burn others inadvertently in its wake.

Politi: The Giants are fun again. Can Jaxson Dart keep this party going? | NJ.com​

He didn’t love my question after the game measuring the extra yards he gains versus the need for him to stay upright for the next play. He was just as defiant at the postgame podium as he is when an opposing linebacker is closing in for the hit.

“I’ve definitely answered this question a lot,” Dart said, “but there are just situations where, it’s third down, I’m going to get the first down. That’s important to me. That’s important to the team. We’ve got to keep the drives alive. Was there maybe one or two hits today I could have avoided? Yes. But in my mind, when I’m running the ball, I’m trying to get a few yards and put our team in a very good situation. I understand that you’ve got to take care of your body, and I definitely try to do my best with that. But in situations where things are important, I’m going to do my best to get that done.”

Listen to Cor’Dale Flott celebrating his game sealing interception Thursday night​

Cor’Dale Flott was mic’d up for his INT! pic.twitter.com/jnuiWxyMnQ

— New York Giants (@Giants) October 10, 2025

‘Fearless’ Jaxson Dart giving Giants — and their fans — reason to believe with win over Eagles | SNY.tv​

There’s a fine line between confidence and cockiness. Dart is overflowing with the former without ever giving the perception of the latter. That self-belief is infectious. The Giants preached, ever since Daboll arrived in 2022, the need to play complementary football. The offense seldom carried its weight. They ranked 30th in yards per game and 31st in points in 2024. Dart is elevating the play of those around him in a way the Giants haven’t experienced since Eli Manning’s prime.

New York’s schedule is still miserable. Next week they travel to Denver to face the Broncos. Then it’s a rematch with the Eagles. Then it’s the 49ers … Bears … Packers… Lions … you get the point. It seems different now, though. Twenty-four hours ago those were all perceived as certain losses. Maybe the Giants still do lose each, but you can believe they have a chance to win. And you can feel that way because of their quarterback.

Jaxson Dart officially put Eagles on notice | New York Post​

John Mara walked out with the game ball, given to him by Brian Daboll, on a night when the quarterback he has been awaiting for what seems like an eternity and a defiant, tough team he hasn’t witnessed in far too long must have been the very best kind of treatment for his battle with cancer.

The value of Andrew Thomas​

Andrew Thomas in three games this season:

86 pass-blocking snaps
0 pressures allowed pic.twitter.com/EFVLdtdkhy

— PFF (@PFF) October 9, 2025

‘F— yeah!’: Behind the scenes of Jaxson Dart’s transformative, unthinkable win over the Eagles | NJ.com​

Receiver Jalin Hyatt struggled against the Saints and sulked on the plane, where he sat in the row behind Dart. Instead of Dart burying his head in his own frustration — after a three-turnover afternoon — he noticed Hyatt.

“Just him having my back when I didn’t have his back, it gave me so much confidence in myself,” Hyatt said. “I have nothing but respect for him. That’s what you want in a quarterback.”

Around the league​

Lane Johnson calls out predictability and lack of in-game adjustments on offense | Bleeding Green Nation

Bucs’ Bowles rules WRs Godwin, Evans, RB Irving out vs. 49ers | ESPN.com

Shedeur Sanders named Browns’ backup quarterback for Week 6 game vs. Steelers | NFL.com

Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard out vs. Cowboys, giving Rico Dowdle another opportunity for starring role | CBSSports.com

Broncos list DT Malcolm Roach as questionable | Pro Football Talk

How Sean Payton transformed a football team during an unforgettable summer in England | The Athletic

BBV mailbag​

Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to [email protected] and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag.

BBV YouTube​

You can find and subscribe to Big Blue View YouTube from the show’s home page

BBV on X: Follow @BigBlueView | Ed Valentine: @Valentine_Ed | Threads: @ed.valentine | Bluesky: @edvalentine

BBV on Facebook: Click here to like the Big Blue View Facebook page

BBV on YouTube: Subscribe to the Big Blue View YouTube channel

BBV on Instagram: Click here to follow our Instagram page

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...tebo-andrew-thomas-brian-burns-more-headlines

 

[New York Giants]

Is the Giants’ cornerback rotation over?

The New York Giants have seemingly made their decision on their outside cornerback opposite Paulson Adebo, and it appears to be Cor’Dale Flott.

Cornerbacks Flott and Deonte Banks have split snaps as the “starting” outside cornerback opposite Adebo all year long, dating back to training camp. When the Giants released their initial depth chart, they listed Flott and Banks as “co-starters” on the outside. They held to that through the first four games, rotating the two players over the course of the game.

Then something seemingly changed in Week 5. Banks was coming off his most active — and best — week against the Chargers, only to play just 8 snaps against the New Orleans Saints. He then played just 3 defensive snaps against the Philadelphia Eagles.

To be fair, Flott was generally more consistent and is a more versatile corner. He is more advanced at the catch point and his game more easily lends itself to blending man and zone principles. At the same time, Banks was flagged for a pass interference penalty against the Saints that wiped out a Jevon Holland interception and marked the start of the Giants’ collapse.

Fans and writers alike wondered why the Giants even bothered putting Banks on the field in the first month of the season. That led to a certain amount of satisfaction when the third year corner was a virtual non-presence against the Philadelphia Eagles. We’ve seen proclamations from several outlets that Thursday night’s game, and Flott’s game-sealing interception, have ended the experiment.

And that may be, or even probably is, the case.

However, it’s also possible that the snap distribution against the Eagles was planned — something of a one-off and part of the plan to facilitate the gameplan.

Tony Del Genio noted in our staff chat that reports prior to Thursday Night Football indicated that the Giants could abandon the rotation and rely solely on Flott opposite Adebo against the Eagles.

I responded that “Man coverage makes less sense tonight. Banks has been awesome at forcing tight windows, but Flott is definitely better at zone coverage.”

I won’t rehash my entire preview of the Eagles offense, but zone coverage and disciplined defense was the key to the Broncos suffocating the Eagles in Week 5.

That’s notable because the Broncos are the NFL’s premier man coverage team. They ran man coverage at the highest rate in the NFL through Week 5, calling it on 62.8 percent of plays per FieldVisionSports. That’s a full 5 points higher than the next highest rate and 9 points higher than the man-heavy defense called by the Giants this year.

Yet the Broncos flipped the script against the Eagles and used zone coverage to keep the play in front of them while also preventing the running game form getting on track.

The Giants clearly went to school on the Broncos defense and used zone coverage and disciplined rushes to frustrate the Philly defense (much to the frustration of some fans who wanted them to be blitz-happy and sell out to hit Hurts). And it obviously worked, shutting the Eagles down in the second half and holding them to 17 points for the second consecutive week.

It helped that Flott had, easily, the best game of his career. Next Gen Stats credits him with allowing just 1 reception for 10 yards, while also getting an interception, in 3 targets. He allowed a -30.7 percent catch rate over expected and a coverage EPA of -10.

Flott’s previous play has been fine — not to the level he showed against the Eagles, but fine.

Flott’s play on Thursday likely cements him as the “starter” (at least for now) but the question is whether the rotation between he and Banks is over, and I’m not so sure.

To circle back, I mentioned in my reply to Tony that Banks has been excellent at forcing tight window throws, and player tracking data backs that up. Banks has allowed an average of 0.8 yards — 28.8 inches — of separation this year. That’s less than an arm length worth of separation on average between he and the receiver. Nobody in the NFL who has played as many coverage snaps as Banks has allowed less average separation. The closest player to him in terms of forcing tight window throws is probably Sauce Gardner, who has allowed 1.2 yards of separation on 150 coverage snaps.

Banks had 68 coverage snaps prior to Thursday night, but was only targeted 3 times (giving up 2 receptions for 24 yards), per NextGenStats

But what about that pass interference call against the Saints? In my personal view, I’m not so sure that was defensive pass interference, and could have been an offensive pass interference or perhaps a “no-call”.

We’ll start with the All-22 tape, which certainly looks bad.

Banks is at the bottom in tight man coverage with Chris Olave. He does a great job of being patient, using his positioning to squeeze Olave to the sideline, and then running with him down the field. There’s incidental contact with both players putting a hand out at the same time around the 35-yard line. Then Banks appears to slip and pull Olave down just before Holland makes the interception and it rains flags.

But the replay shown on the broadcast angle shows things a bit differently.

Slowing things down at the point they lose their footing, it appears as though Olave got his hand inside Banks’ left sleeve and pulled him down as he tried to work back to an under-thrown pass.

Of course, we’re limited by our perspective from the near sideline. It’s certainly possible that Banks committed a more obvious penalty that the officials saw but wasn’t apparent from either broadcast or All-22 angle. On the flip side, it’s possible that they didn’t see Olave pull Banks down because of the proximity between the two players and the officials reacted to the receiver going down and assumed that it was Banks’ fault.

Final thoughts​

As I said above, I feel fairly confident in saying that Cor’Dale Flott is the Giants’ “primary” CB2 for the foreseeable future. But I don’t think that necessarily means that Banks won’t see the field on defense.

I tend to think that the risk of reputation penalties is the bigger concern than Banks’ ability on the field, considering his target rate in man coverage is just 4 percent.

Even if they may not be warranted, reputation calls still hurt the team. If Banks is playing tight enough coverage that incidental contact is likely and officials are inclined to flag him if there’s any doubt, the coaches are taking a risk by playing him. It isn’t fair to Banks, but the Giants shouldn’t be in the business of “fair”. They’re in the business of putting themselves in the best position to win games.

So is the rotation over with?

Again, I’m not so sure. Barring behind-the-scenes developments that could have the Giants “out” on Banks, I suspect he’ll be on the field when the situation and game-plan warrant it. We could well see him against the Broncos, considering Banks was primarily matched up against Quentin Johnston and the similarities between he and Courtland Sutton. Banks did well against the big, physical receiver and had his best game of the season. He probably shouldn’t be exiled to the bench, and there will likely be situations in which Banks’ skill set as a man coverage specialist is desirable.

How often that comes up, of course, remains to be seen.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-york-giants-analysis/140583/is-the-giants-cornerback-rotation-over

 

[New York Giants]

Could Mike Kafka be the Titans’ next head coach?

Mike Kafka

Could New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka have a new home next year?

The Tennessee Titans became the first team to hop on the coaching carousel this year, firing head coach Brian Callahan on Monday after a 1-5 start to the season. Callahan was hired just last year, replacing (now New England Patriots head coach) Mike Vrabel after he was surprisingly fired following the 2023 season.

It was really only a matter of time before the 2025-2026 coaching cycle got started, though we weren’t sure which team would kick things off. The Titans were certainly a contender, but so too were the Miami Dolphins with Mike McDaniel, the Cleveland Browns with Kevan Stefanski, and the Giants with Brian Daboll.

But after a three-week stretch in which the Giants beat the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles, Daboll’s seat may have cooled.

If things keep trending positively, we’ll likely see offensive coordinator Mike Kafka once again interviewing for head coaching vacancies. And if so, Tennessee bears watching.

Kafka interviewed for the job that ultimately went to Callahan back in the winter of 2024. It was only a first-round interview, though Kafka did receive a second interview with the Seattle Seahawks that year. The Titans are obviously familiar with Kafka and there was at least some some level of interest previously.

The other factor is that the Titans have rookie quarterback Cam Ward, whom they selected with the first overall pick.

Assuming (and it’s an admittedly big assumption at this point) that things continue to trend in a positive direction for the Giants and Jaxson Dart, Kafka could be a very hot coaching prospect. Kafka has gotten head coaching interviews every offseason that he’s been the Giants’ offensive coordinator, but adding “developed a franchise quarterback” to his resume could put him over the top.

The similarities in skill set between Ward and Dart — as well as Patrick Mahomes, with whom Kafka worked in Kansas City — are notable. Kafka knows how to work with a quarterback who thrives as a creator behind the line of scrimmage, who has an elastic arm and eel-like escapability if not elite athleticism.

There will certainly be other good candidates for the job. Kliff Kingsbury stands out for his experience as a head coach with the Cardinals, as well as his work with Jayden Daniels. But a strong finish to the year for Dart would be a feather in Kafka’s cap as he tries to take the next step in his career.

Recent history suggests that Tennessee might not be an ideal landing spot for a rookie head coach. After all, they fired Mike Vrabel after just two losing seasons then didn’t even give his replacement two full seasons. However, there are only 32 head coaching jobs in the NFL and Kafka would likely jump at the opportunity to interview if asked.

Of course, the first step is for the Giants’ offense to continue to improve and for Dart to develop into the player the Giants think he can be.

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/general...g-tennessee-titans-mike-kafka-new-york-giants

 

[New York Giants]

Giants news, 10/14: Thibodeaux praises Bowen, Dexter Lawrence, Cam Skattebo, more headlines

Good morning, New York Giants fans!

From Big Blue View​

• Broncos-Giants opening odds for Week 7
• Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux offers praise to an unlikely source
• Should the Giants buy or sell at NFL trade deadline? Maybe both
• Could Mike Kafka be the Titans’ next head coach?
• Fantasy Football ‘25: Waiver Wire, Week 7 edition

Other Giant observations​

Giants need to embrace Dexter Lawrence’s unfamiliar success message after Eagles statement | New York Post​

“Dex talked to us after that game about handling success and not shying away from it.” The Giants did not handle success the right way the first time around this season. Can they do better this time after a rousing victory?

Andrew Thomas: Focus is on winning consistently​

"I think we're still building our identity."

Andrew Thomas talks about the Giants building their identity at this point in the season: pic.twitter.com/HKHlkTXr0W

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 13, 2025

Giants’ offensive line bullied Eagles, highlighting what looks like emerging strength | The Athletic​

After playing the first half in Week 3, Thomas has played 100 percent of the offensive snaps in the three ensuing games. It’s probably no coincidence, then, that those were the Giants’ three best rushing games of the season, not only by total rushing yards but by success rate, as well.

According to TruMedia, the Giants’ rushing success rate — a metric that measures how often an offense is generating positive plays based on down and distance — in the past three games has been 48.4 percent, 50 percent and 41.5 percent. The league average entering “Sunday Night Football” was 40 percent. By a more traditional measure, the Giants have been the second-best running team in football from Weeks 4-6 — again, entering SNF — piling up more yards on the ground (469) than any team but the Panthers.

Cam Skattebo nominated for FedEx Air & Ground Player of the Week | Giants.com​

The rookie running back carried the ball 19 times for 98 yards and an impressive three touchdowns in the Giants’ Week 6 victory over the Eagles while adding two receptions for an additional 12 yards. Skattebo became the second rookie running back in franchise history to rush for three touchdowns in a game, joining Charlie Evans, who ran for three touchdowns against the San Diego Chargers back in 1971. Skattebo is the first rookie running back to rush for three scores in a game since Washington’s Antonio Gibson did so in 2020.

How Cam Skattebo is living up to a legacy with one angry play at a time with NY Giants | The Record​

Cam Skattebo has brought a legacy to the New York Giants that he has established by inflicting punishment on the football field.

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, you should 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.

Giants now can believe each week that they have a chance to win | New York Daily News​

The Giants’ Week 6 win over the Philadelphia Eagles was bigger than one result. Not because it guaranteed anything more. It didn’t. What the Giants’ victory over the Eagles did, however, is allow Brian Daboll‘s team and the fan base to believe.

For the first time since 2022, the Giants’ players, staff and fans now can look at each of the team’s upcoming games and come up with realistic scenarios about how the Giants might win each one. The Broncos? They nearly just lost to the Jets. Their offense is far from perfect. The Giants defense can exploit that. The Eagles in a South Philadelphia rematch? The Giants already beat them once. Why not again? The 49ers in a visit to MetLife Stadium? Nick Bosa and Fred Warner are out of for the year. Bring it on.

Wan’Dale Robinson on learning to play with Jaxson Dart​

"Whenever he's rolling around back there, the route's kind of already over that I ran. It's just get open again and try to be available for the quarterback."

Wan'Dale Robinson talks about building chemistry with Jaxson Dart and making himself open in scramble situations: pic.twitter.com/P8GNUNqRuf

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 13, 2025

Giants’ Jaxson Dart, Abdul Carter leaders for Offensive, Defensive Rookie of the Year awards | New York Post​

No. 3 pick Abdul Carter is the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year with +175 odds at FanDuel. Dart opened the season at +2500 to win the award and was +650 before Thursday’s game. As of Monday afternoon, Dart is +100 to win OROY ahead of Buccaneers receiver Emeka Egbuka (+450), Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (+450) and Colts tight end Tyler Warren (+750).

20 trade candidates ahead of the 2025 NFL trade deadline | PFF​

EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, New York Giants. Possible Fits: 49ers, Lions, Buccaneers, Chiefs. The Giants have seen a spark since turning to Jaxson Dart, but at 2-4 — and with the fifth-hardest remaining schedule prior to Week 6 — their playoff odds are slim to none. New York felt comfortable enough to pick up Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option, but keeping him around in the long term with Abdul Carter and Brian Burns probably isn’t the shrewdest. The former fifth overall pick would have plenty of fans around the league.

T Jermaine Eluemunor, New York Giants Possible Fits: Chargers, Buccaneers, Packers. Eluemunor has quietly developed into a solid pass-protecting right tackle. Through Week 6, he’s notched a 71.0-plus PFF pass-blocking grade in each of his two seasons with the Giants, allowing just six sacks on 760 opportunities. The Giants may not want to detract from Dart’s development by removing his starting right tackle — but if the framework is there for a deal for the soon-to-be free agent, it could be too tempting to turn down. The Chargers, Buccaneers and Packers have all been besieged by injuries to tackles this year and could particularly use assistance at right tackle.

Giants brace for harsh penalty over Jaxson Dart incident: ‘NFL is taking this very seriously’ | NJ.com​

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said the league has initiated an investigation. If the Giants are hit with a fine, it would not be the first time. In 2017, the Seattle Seahawks were fined $100,000 after Russell Wilson went back into a game without the full concussion evaluation being finished.

“The NFL is taking this very seriously,” Florio said. “No one is allowed in the tent. Coaches and players can’t go in. Running back Cam Skattebo actually went inside during the concussion evaluation of Jaxson Dart. The league called the NFL Players Association the next morning to start a joint review. There will be interviews of all relevant medical staff, coaches and players. The Giants face a potential fine and also the possibility of the loss of a draft pick, depending upon how this all shakes out.”

What I’m Hearing on A.J. Brown’s future, J.J. McCarthy’s status and MetLife turf | The Athletic​

According to the league’s injury data, MetLife doesn’t fit the villain label. In 2024, the field ranked ninth-best when it came to lower-extremity injuries, according to that data. And for visiting players, who are typically more vulnerable on unfamiliar surfaces, MetLife actually graded out first, safest in the NFL.

This week’s opponent​

NFL Week 6: Biggest questions, takeaways for every game | ESPN.com​

How did the Broncos manage to keep this game on a razor’s edge? Let them count the ways on the flight home from London. The Broncos fumbled on their first possession, had a cascade of penalties on offense — including a holding penalty in their own end zone that resulted in a third-quarter safety — and allowed two massive kickoff returns, including a 72-yarder. Add it all up and it almost negated one of the best defensive performances in the league this season that included nine sacks and holding the Jets to minus-11 passing yards. Broncos coach Sean Payton said he believed the offense would find its identity soon, but they certainly didn’t find it in north London.

What we learned about the Broncos across 10 days, thousands of miles and two wins | The Athletic​

The Broncos have produced 14 explosive plays this season — only six teams in the league have fewer. Quarterback Bo Nix and the offense have gone three-and-out on 37-.3 percent of their offensive possessions, a worse rate than all but seven teams. Denver is 24th in third-down success (36.6 percent), 31st in offensive penalty yards (219) and 16th in turnovers (seven). Nix ranks 26th among 34 qualified quarterbacks in passing yards per attempt (6.2).

Broncos’ defense has 30 sacks through six games, on pace to break NFL record | Pro Football Talk​

Denver is averaging five sacks a game this year, which puts the Denver D on pace to finish this season with 85 sacks in 17 games. That would shatter the current NFL record of 72 sacks, set by the Bears in 1984.

The Broncos’ pass rush is led by Nick Bonitto, who has an NFL-high eight sacks this season. That puts him on pace to finish the season with 22.5 sacks, which would tie the NFL record, set by Michael Strahan in 2001 and tied by T.J. Watt in 2021.

Around the league​

Za’Darius Smith unexpectedly retiring is certainly not good news for the Eagles | Bleeding Green Nation

Brian Schottenheimer backs Matt Eberflus: He’s a great coach | Pro Football Talk

Titans fire head coach Brian Callahan after 1-5 start to second season | NFL.com

Dolphins’ McDaniel: Tagovailoa picked wrong forum for comments | ESPN.com

Mike Tomlin shades Browns GM for trading Joe Flacco | SB Nation

Aaron Glenn admits Justin Fields took ‘step back’ for Jets against Broncos, won’t bench QB after one bad game | CBSSports.com

49ers star linebacker Fred Warner out for season with broken and dislocated ankle | The Athletic

BBV mailbag​

Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to [email protected] and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag.

BBV YouTube​

You can find and subscribe to Big Blue View YouTube from the show’s home page

BBV on X: Follow @BigBlueView | Ed Valentine: @Valentine_Ed | Threads: @ed.valentine | Bluesky: @edvalentine

BBV on Facebook: Click here to like the Big Blue View Facebook page

BBV on YouTube: Subscribe to the Big Blue View YouTube channel

BBV on Instagram: Click here to follow our Instagram page

Source: https://www.bigblueview.com/new-yor...thibodeaux-concussion-protocol-violation-more