The Giants are heading into their preseason meeting with the Dolphins with more than a few jobs still up for grabs, and a handful of players can do themselves real favors in Miami. For some, it’s about locking down a role. For others, it’s about turning a shaky summer into something more stable.
Odell Beckham Jr. sits at the top of that list. Big Blue Nation would love to see him make the 53-man roster, and his return to the G-Men has already carried plenty of feel-good energy.
The bigger question is whether there’s real football substance behind it. New York still needs another receiver to step forward, especially with target dominator Malik Nabers recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus.
Third-round rookie Malachi Fields has impressed this summer, but it remains to be seen whether he can handle a major workload right away. JuJu Smith-Schuster was cut after a brief stint, Darnell Mooney has surfaced in trade chatter despite arriving in March, Calvin Austin III is expected to work from the slot, and Darius Slayton is, well, Darius Slayton.
Beckham has a clear opening if he can stack a few more plays against Miami. He didn’t put anything in the box score in the Giants’ 13-10 loss to the Vikings, but he was getting open over and over again.
Joshua Ezeudu is another name with a chance to gain ground. The Giants’ decision to trade Daniel Faalele to the Jacksonville Jaguars stood out, especially because of Faalele’s history with head coach John Harbaugh from their Baltimore Ravens days.
But it also reads like a nod toward Ezeudu. Faalele’s exit came after sixth-round rookie J.C.
Davis flashed at left tackle against the Minnesota Vikings, which opened the door for Ezeudu to move over to right guard. He came into college as a left guard, has experience at left tackle, and has worked at every spot on the right side this summer, giving him the kind of versatility coaches tend to love.
His stock only gets a boost from the fact that he stepped in for first-team reps when first-round rookie Francis "Sisi" Mauigoa left practice with a stinger.
Najee Harris rounds out the trio, and he has already made this backfield picture more complicated. He was on the field in live reps just days after signing a one-year "prove-it" deal and reportedly looked "pretty good" too.
His size, power and experience could play well with Harbaugh, especially if he carries that momentum into Miami. The door is open a bit wider because Tyrone Tracy Jr. appears to be in hot water after blowing a pass-protection assignment that ended with quarterback Jaxson Dart getting absolutely crushed.
Cam Skattebo is still working back from a dislocated right ankle, a fractured fibula and a ruptured deltoid ligament. That combination gives Harris a real shot to carve out a more meaningful role than anyone expected when he arrived so late.
In Other News...
Giants May Have Found Two Early Answers For Jaxson Dart
A practice against the Dolphins offered a useful snapshot of where the Giants may be finding help around Jaxson Dart. Rookie wideout Malachi Fields stood out by hauling in multiple deep passes from the young quarterback, a sign that the two are already building the kind of timing New York has been looking for as it sorts out Darts supporting cast.
Najee Harris added another encouraging layer by finishing a red-zone drill with a touchdown, giving the Giants a look at a veteran back who can bring immediate value after his recent arrival. Head coach John Harbaugh came away pleased with both players work and their readiness, and for a Giants team trying to settle on answers early, those are the kinds of practice reps that matter. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Roster Battles Hit A Crucial Point Against Miami
The Giants head into their preseason meeting with Miami knowing the evaluation window is getting tighter. With John Harbaugh suggesting only a few starters may see the field, the value of every snap goes up for the backups trying to separate themselves, especially along the offensive line and at cornerback, where the roster math is still very much in flux.
Jake Haeners arrival adds another layer to the competition after Brandon Allens rough outing put the quarterback depth picture back under scrutiny. For a team still sorting out the bottom of the roster, this is the sort of game that can quietly shape the next few weeks, with practice squad spots and depth roles hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Joint Practice Turned Into A Fight Fans Will Debate
What was supposed to be a useful joint practice between the Giants and Dolphins took a sharp turn when tempers boiled over and a brawl broke out involving multiple players. Jameis Winston was in the middle of it, and the scene quickly became the kind of practice fight people will be replaying and arguing about long after camp moves on.
John Harbaugh said anyone who threw punches was disciplined the same way they would be in a game, a reminder that these kinds of skirmishes can carry real consequences even without the lights on. The two teams are set to see each other again in a preseason game, which adds a little more edge to a matchup that already has plenty of attention after the latest flare-up. [Read more 🡒]