The Giants’ preseason clock is ticking down fast, and Saturday’s game against the Miami Dolphins should tell a lot about who’s still in the mix for jobs and snaps. With roster decisions creeping closer, this one feels less like a tune-up and more like a final audition for a handful of players.
One of the biggest questions is how many starters, if any, will actually suit up. Head coach John Harbaugh didn’t commit one way or the other after Thursday’s joint practice, but he did leave the door open for some veterans to sit.
“Certain guys, I’m sure, got enough work,” Harbaugh said. “Certain guys, we’ll have to talk about what we want to do.”
The best guess is that the front-line group will be limited, with rookies and players battling for starting roles getting most of the run.
Najee Harris is another name to watch. The veteran running back returned to practice on Tuesday and, somewhat unexpectedly, logged a few carries on Thursday. Whether that leads to game action Saturday remains unclear, but it would not be a surprise to see him get at least a couple of touches.
Up front, the backup offensive line battle has taken on some new shape. Daniel Faalele was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Josh Ezeudu has worked his way into the second-team guard spot and even took first-team reps after Francis Mauigoa left Thursday’s practice with a stinger. Ezeudu also appeared to limp off later in the session, which adds another wrinkle to his status for Saturday.
Backup center is worth watching too. Lucas Patrick has been viewed as the likely No. 2 behind John Michael Schmitz, and that still appears to be the case, but knee issues have cost him time in camp.
That has given Bryan Hudson and Jake Kubas a chance to push. Kubas, an undrafted free agent in his third season, stood out at both center and guard in the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings.
Evan Neal is another lineman whose situation bears close attention. He has continued working with the third team, but if Mauigoa and Ezeudu both sit, Neal could be in line for a heavy workload and another chance to make his case for a roster spot.
Rookie tackle J.C. Davis is in that conversation too.
The sixth-round pick has moved up the tackle depth chart with Ezeudu spending more time at guard, but his path still isn’t settled. Saturday would be a good chance for him to make some noise.
There’s also a cornerback battle still waiting for a clear answer. Paulson Adebo picked off a pass on Thursday, but he’s been getting plenty of second-team work as well. If he gets into Saturday’s game, it may say something about where he stands in the competition.
And then there’s the quarterback question behind the top two. After Brandon Allen threw two interceptions in the second half against Minnesota, the Giants brought in Jake Haener.
The team probably won’t carry a third quarterback on the active roster, but it will need one on the practice squad. The question now is whether Haener has absorbed enough of the playbook in time to get into Saturday’s game and possibly pass Allen in the race for that job.
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Giants Roster Battle Puts Familiar Names Under Real Pressure In Miami
With several roster spots still up for grabs, the Giants head into their preseason matchup with the Dolphins with more on the line than just another August tuneup. For players like Najee Harris, Joshua Ezeudu and Odell Beckham Jr., this is the kind of week that can quietly reshape a depth chart, especially when a team is still sorting out how the bottom of the roster should look.
Miami offers the Giants one more chance to see who handles the moment instead of just the reps. For veterans and hopefuls alike, a strong showing would not settle every question, but it could sharpen the conversation around who is earning more trust as roster decisions get closer. [Read more 🡒]
Giants May Have Found Two Early Answers For Jaxson Dart
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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 🡒]
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 🡒]