The Giants have a couple of louder camp fights going on - the kicker job, the wide receiver battle - but the one tucked deepest in the shadows may end up mattering just as much.
That’s the backup center spot, and with the first preseason game set for Saturday, Bryan Hudson suddenly finds himself in the middle of it. Not because this was supposed to be his moment, but because injuries have pushed him there.
Starter John Michael Schmitz is out with a concussion, and veteran reserve Lucas Patrick is dealing with knee issues. That has put Hudson, the backup-to-the-backup, in line for every first-team rep over the past week.
For Hudson, it’s a real opening. At minimum, he has a chance to leap Patrick on the depth chart and claim the top backup role.
If he plays well enough, he could also put some pressure on Schmitz, whose career has not yet taken off in Year 4. With a contract extension looming this offseason, the Giants may have to ask a simple question: if Hudson proves he can handle the job, and he’s younger and cheaper, why wouldn’t they at least think hard about him?
Hudson has already given them something to chew on. Last preseason, he flashed enough to turn heads before ending up on the practice squad. He posted a 90.7 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked second among the 56 centers who appeared in preseason action.
His path to this point has been a winding one. Hudson went undrafted out of Louisville in 2024, signed with the Lions, later landed with the Patriots, and was waived by New England before joining the Giants’ practice squad the next day.
Patrick, meanwhile, has seen this movie before. A calf strain last year opened the door for Dalton Risner to take his spot, and Patrick didn’t really have a role after that. Hudson now has a chance to do the same thing to him in 2026.
What looked like a minor camp note a week ago is suddenly one of the more intriguing things to watch when the Giants take the field Saturday afternoon. If Patrick’s health remains shaky and Schmitz keeps fighting through a rough Year 4, New York could wind up with a real decision on its hands when it gets to 53-man roster time. Hudson has put himself in position to make that call a lot harder.
In Other News...
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That gap between debate and reality is where this story gets interesting for New York. The Athletic and other commentary have painted a steadier view of Winston's camp, suggesting he has handled his practice reps well and remains in line to stay put unless something unexpected changes. So while outsiders may keep gaming out a move, the Giants do not appear to be operating with any urgency to replace him, and there is no confirmed sign that a trade or cut is imminent. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Just Lost Out On A Free Agent They Clearly Wanted
The Giants spent part of their search for help in the secondary looking at Terrion Arnold, a former first-round pick whose talent has never really been in question even as off-field issues have pushed him into free agency. For a team trying to keep building depth and competition, a player with his pedigree was the kind of low-risk swing that could have fit naturally into the conversation.
Instead, Arnold came away from his visit and landed with the Seattle Seahawks, leaving New York still sorting through options. Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh has already made the point that Arnold is the kind of player who can help a team get better, which only adds to the sense that the Giants were not alone in seeing the appeal - and that they may have just watched one they liked slip away. [Read more 🡒]