Tyrone Tracy Jr. was supposed to come out of the preseason mess and settle things down for the New York Giants. Instead, he opened the 2026 season by giving fans another uneasy reminder that the ball-security issues are still hanging around.
In Sunday night’s 28-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys, the third-year back got only two carries. The first went for six yards.
The second gained eight before he lost the ball near Dallas’ 20-yard line, and that was the end of his night. It was hardly the kind of response Tracy, or anyone watching, wanted after a rough preseason.
The frustrating part is that this isn’t a brand-new problem. Tracy fumbled five times as a rookie, then looked to have it under control last season when he put the ball on the ground only once. This summer brought more concern, and Sunday added another hit to the ledger.
He has at least already shown he’s willing to look for fixes. After his rookie year, Tracy ordered grip strengtheners from Amazon to work on his fumbling, and he later said they helped him improve his grip going into Year 2. The numbers backed that up, with his fumbles dropping from five to one.
That’s where the comparison to Darius Slayton starts to make too much sense for Giants fans. Slayton spent years as the kind of player who could flash big-play ability one snap and make everyone groan the next. The 29-year-old has been credited with 26 drops since entering the league in 2019, and he’s long been one of those players who can turn a routine touch into a highlight or a headache.
Tracy and Slayton are both talented former fifth-round picks, and both have given Giants fans plenty to enjoy. They’ve also each carried one maddening flaw tied to the most important job at their position.
For years, the fear with Slayton came when the ball was in the air. Now, with Tracy, it’s starting to show up every time he takes a handoff.
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