EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants and New York Jets held another hotly-contested joint practice on Wednesday, this time at the Giants’ Quest Diagnostics Training Center facility.
“Time’s running out”
Giants head coach Brian Daboll knows what time it is. He knows that, while the Giants are still technically in training camp, that the Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Washington Commanders is just 25 days away.
In response to a question about undrafted wide receiver Beaux Collins, who is back on the field after missing some practice time, Daboll said this:
“For these young guys or these guys that are competing for roster spots, availability is important because your time’s running out. It’s getting closer and closer to decision-making, it’s getting closer and closer to the season, so all these guys that are not out there are doing everything they can to be back out there.”
Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, cornerback Dru Phillips and guard Evan Neal returned to practice for the Giants. Wide receiver Malik Nabers, wide receiver Da’Quan Felton, running back Cam Skattebo and cornerback Tre Hawkins remained sidelined.
Cornerback Tae Banks and tight end Chris Manhertz were held out of Wednesday’s practice after working on Tuesday.
Safety Tyler Nubin was seen working on the exercise bike during practice. He finished practice with his pads off.
Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor was not at practice. His wife gave birth to a baby girl, Amanda, overnight.
Marcus Mbow was the first-team right tackle in Eluemunor’s absence.
Brian Burns’ strong summer
Veteran edge defender Brian Burns has been dominant all summer. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence paid homage on Tuesday to the work Burns is doing with this remark:
“I think his game is unlimited, honestly. He can speed rush you, he can power you, he can finesse you,” Lawrence said. “He’s got a lot, because he’s not a little guy either, so he’s got a lot to his game, and, he’s tapped in it more this training camp, and that’s good to see.”
On Wednesday, Burns talked about what he wants to do entering his seventh NFL season.
“Just trying to take my game to a level it’s never been,” Burns said. “That will require me doing things I never did. I’m working with Dex quite a bit, talking to Dex a lot, just how to manipulate body positions and use my length and power more, and not just my speed and finesse.
“That’s been good to me so far. I’m going to keep working on that.”
Burns and rookies Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart were the scheduled podium speakers after practice. Shortly after practice ended, Carter came sprinting to the podium in the Giants’ indoor practice facility, followed shortly by an out-of-breath, not having the rookie’s nonsense, Burns.
Carter was at the podium first, but Burns shooed him away. Was that Burns, as a veteran player, pulling rank on the rookie?
“Damn right,” said Burns.
It’s a pocket? … To pass from? … Seriously?
After Saturday’s game, during which the Giants passed the ball 45 times against the Buffalo Bills without any of their four quarterbacks taking a sack, starter Russell Wilson said there was a lot space for him to maneuver in the pocket.
Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart went out of his way in the game’s aftermath to laud the linemen.
“I sent a message to them after the game that I’d never played in a pocket like this,” Dart said. “They’ve been able to compete at such a high level.
“As a quarterback, when you’re able to play behind that it makes your job a lot easier, and I thought that they’d done a great job.”
The Giants’ offense and Jets’ defense were involved in scrums on back-to-back running plays. It looked like Giants’ guard Greg Van Roten and Jets’ edge defender Will McDonald were involved, as well as Giants’ guard Jon Runyan and Jets’ cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers.
Mbow called the actions by the Giants’ veteran guards “smart retaliation.”
“It’s retaliation. It’s not like you’re just going to hit him. It’s not like he didn’t do anything,” Mbow said. “So it’s a response.
“I respect coaches’ wishes to not fight, but it gets to a point where you can’t just let people just jump all over you.”
How many times is too many before retaliation is needed?
“One time’s too much,” Mbow said.
Hey, Jude, it’s inside the goal posts
Placekickers don’t miss many field goals during practice sessions without a rush coming at them. Thus, it was kind of jarring to see second-year placekicker Jude McAtamney make only 6 of 9 field goal attempts on Wednesday.
He kicked in two sessions, making 3 of 5 the first time with back-to-back misses wide left from 45 and 50 yards, though he did make a kick from roughly 53 yards.
In McAtamney’s second go-round, he missed a 33-yard extra point.
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