The New York Giants return to the practice field on Wednesday as they begin preparations to host the San Francisco 49ers Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Here are a few of the things I am thinking about as we
enter the week.
Trade deadline approaches
The NFL trade deadline is next Tuesday, Nov. 4. The wheeling and dealing New England Patriots must have thought it was this week, already having made a couple of deals.
Regardless, even at 2-6 and coming off back-to-back disheartening losses that just about ended thoughts of an unlikely playoff run, nothing has changed in terms of how I believe GM Joe Schoen should approach the trade deadline.
I wrote a couple of weeks ago that I believe the Giants should be “active participants” at the deadline. They should be willing to both buy and sell if the right opportunities present themselves.
The Giants do not have a third-round pick in the upcoming draft, having sent that to the Houston Texans to move up in the draft for Jaxson Dart. If they can get a young wide receiver they will have under contract for a few seasons without giving up their second-round pick this year, they should strongly consider it.
That is not about making a playoff push. This is about giving rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart the best possible chance to continue having success this season and beyond.
The Giants should also look to acquire late-round draft capital for spare parts like Russell Wilson, Evan Neal, Jalin Hyatt and perhaps Deonte Banks if Paulson Adebo’s knee injury is short-term. Provided, of course, anyone wants the Giants’ spare parts.
Dex and Carl
I don’t know if Dexter Lawrence will speak to media on Wednesday or Thursday. I hope Thursday, because that is the day I will be in East Rutherford, N.J. Either way, I am anxious to hear how Lawrence addresses the criticism thrown his way by former Giants great and current radio analyst Carl Banks, who said teams don’t respect Lawrence the way they used to.
There is no denying Lawrence has had a quiet season. How Lawrence address both Banks and his sub-par play this season will be interesting. More interesting, though, might be to see if Lawrence can produce a big game on Sunday.
Don’t sleep on Tyrone Tracy
You are mourning the loss of Cam Skatttebo for the season. I get that. You are ticked off at Philadelphia Eagles’ linebacker Zack Baun. I get that, too.
The Giants, though, still have games to play. Quarterback Jaxson Dart has to hand the ball to someone. As much as many Giants’ fans complain about the depth on the roster, running back is not one of those spots where the Giants do not have quality players to turn to.
Tyrone Tracy is a good football player. Let’s not forget that Tracy gained 839 yards rushing as a rookie in 2024, averaged 4.4 yards per carry, and added 38 catches for 284 yards, giving him 1,123 scrimmage yards after barely playing until Week 5.
Tracy doesn’t bring the head-banging, run over everybody juice that Skattebo brings. He is, though, a back capable of making plays as a runner and receiver. He will do a good job. Veteran Devin Singletary has had a good career and is also a player the Giants still have faith in.
Judging Abdul Carter’s rookie season
Abdul Carter’s rookie season has been difficult to judge.
Selected No. 3 overall by the Giants in the 2025 NFL Draft, Carter drew immediate comparisons to Micah Parsons. That was partially because of skillset, and partially because both went to Penn State and wore No. 11. Parsons had 13.0 sacks as a rookie, and has been an All-Pro in each of his first four NFL seasons. Carter was also a betting favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Carter’s rookie season is not quite working out the way many envisioned. He has just a half-sack. He has one measly tackle for loss. He is third on the Giants in quarterback hits with eight, behind Brian Burns with 14 and Kayvon Thibodeaux with nine. Carter is slightly behind Burns (422) and Thibodeaux (405) in snaps played, with 395.
Per Pro Football Focus, Carter’s pass rush win percentage (13.5) is better than Thibodeaux’s (11.2) or Burns (8.9). It pales, though, in comparison to league leaders Will Anderson (29.0), Myles Garrett (26.9), Aidan Hutchinson (25.2) and Parson (24.8).
It is easy to judge the first half of Carter’s rookie season as a disappointment. Is it really, though?
Consider this from NextGen Stats:
Abdul Carter has generated 33 pressures and 19 quick pressures (under 2.5 seconds) across his 232 pass rushes, with both pressure totals leading the Giants as well as all NFL rookies.
His 8.2% quick pressure rate is the 5th-highest by any defender with at least 100 pass rushes.
Carter is making an impact. Just not the loud, game-changing one he was expected to make, Let’s see if that changes over the final nine games.
About Sunday
I am not ready to predict a Giants’ victory on Sunday. You will have to wait and see all of the Big Blue View game picks in Thursday’s Week 9 picks and predictions post.
I will say this. Whether quarterback Brock Purdy plays or not, this is a game I have believed is winnable for the Giants ever since the schedule came out several months ago. The 49ers have not scored more than 26 points in a game this season, despite head coach Kyle Shanahan’s reputation as an offensive genius. They have lost defensive end Joey Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner for the season due to injuries. Quarterback Brock Purdy may or may not return from a toe injury this weekend.
The Giants have won their last two games at MetLife Stadium, beating the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles.
If the Giants’ defense can remember that the job description involves stopping the guy with the football the Giants have a shot to win this one.
