Good morning, New York Giants fans!
From Big Blue View
- Giants-Commanders Thursday injury update: Andrew Thomas held out of practice
- 5 questions with Hogs Haven: Old men, pining for Abdul Carter, more
- Giants at Commanders, Week 1: What to expect when the Giants have the ball
- What an inflated Edge market means for Kayvon Thibodeaux
- 1-on-1 (literally!) with Giants’ TE Chris Manhertz
- Andrew Thomas’s contract re-structured by New York Giants
- Giants QB Russell Wilson reflects on his 200th start
- New York Giants to sell minority stake to Koch family
- New York Giants work out group of defensive backs
- Giants-Commanders 2025, Week 1: Everything you need to know as Giants open 2025 season
Other Giant observations
Abdul Carter doesn’t have to be Lawrence Taylor to be a franchise-changing game-wrecker for Giants | New York Post
If we can all agree that there is no “next,’’ then maybe we can come to the understanding that Abdul Carter is “the one’’ after the one and only.
Since Lawrence Taylor, the Giants selected 18 defensive players in the first round. The latest is Abdul Carter. “He’s as hyped as any defensive player they’ve brought into that program since LT. I don’t think you’re wrong by saying anything like that.’’
Phil Simms and Russell Wilson talk ball
What will Malik Nabers do for his NFL encore? NY Giants star set to speak up and show out | The Record
The lasting image of Malik Nabers from his first-ever game inside Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., is of the New York Giants wide receiver flat on his stomach and face down into the grass at the 11-yard line.
The fourth down throw had slipped through his hands, giving Washington possession for a drive that led to the game-winning score in Week 2 last season, and all Nabers could do was pound the ground with his fist in frustration because of the opportunity lost.
Mike Kafka to be Giants’ playcaller, Brian Daboll says | ESPN.com
New York Giants coach Brian Daboll confirmed Thursday that assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will be the offensive playcaller this season. Kafka called plays this preseason from down on the field, which was a change from previous years when he served as the playcaller from the booth. He anticipates that continuing throughout this season.
“It was good to be on the sideline,” Kafka said. “It’s always to be right there with the players and see it eye to eye and communicate with them more directly. You can do certain elements of that up in the box. But there’s really no substitute for being on the field. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer. Guys obviously operate a bunch of different ways. So I thought it was cool. It was fun.”
Will NY Giants Turn to Multiple QBs This Season? | SI.com
Playing multiple quarterbacks wouldn’t be something new for Daboll, who did so when he was at the University of Alabama, where his primary starter was current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Daboll, with the Crimson Tide, noted that when the score got out of hand–which it frequently did–he would insert current Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa into games to help develop Tagovailoa’s game.
Giants muzzling Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston after depth chart surprise | New York Post
After the Giants flip-flopped the order of their backup quarterbacks to elevate the rookie Dart over Winston on their unofficial depth chart, team officials made both quarterbacks unavailable for interview this week in what appears to be a violation of the NFL media access policy. All players are obligated to be available to the media on a weekly basis during open access to the locker room. It appears to be a departure from the way that the Giants traditionally have handled media access, strictly adhering to the NFL policy established in accordance with the Pro Football Writers Association and making all players available even in controversial times. Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito and Tyrod Taylor all were available as needed without formal request while backing up Daniel Jones over the last three seasons.
Giants know preseason vibes mean nothing without results: ‘We’ve got to go do it’ | New York Daily News
There is more optimism inside the Giants‘ building than there has been in a while. The positive vibes are real coming out of an undefeated preseason with a league-high 107 points scored in three games.
But none of that matters on Sunday if the Giants don’t beat the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium. That’s the message Brian Daboll is trickling down to his team: It’s put up or shut up time. “I have a lot of confidence in our guys,” Daboll said. “But again, we have to go out there and do it.”
Darius Slayton: Overlook us at your peril
New York Giants 2025: What does a successful season look like? NFL experts weigh in | The Athletic
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger defined a successful season for the Giants as winning nine games, and he believes they are capable of getting there. But he also noted that success would have to include Dart getting on the field and making a strong case that he is the franchise’s future.
“At some point, they have to find that out,” he said. “And at some point, I think he’s going to be on the field for good, and I think we’re all excited to watch what happens.”
25 Questions That Could Shape the 2025 NFL Season | The Ringer
9. Will the New York Giants keep Jaxson Dart on the bench all season? Giants fans are obviously excited, but they’ll have to wait a bit before they see Dart in a real game. Russell Wilson is starting, and the rookie will back him up after beating out Jameis Winston for the role during the preseason. That had not been the initial plan—the Giants had originally expected to give Dart a redshirt year behind the two veterans they acquired in free agency.
In beating out Winston, Dart has already cleared one hurdle. But it might be more difficult to unseat Wilson with Daboll fighting for his job in 2025. If I were the Giants head coach, I’d keep the rookie on the bench. I don’t know whether Daboll can save his job without making an unlikely playoff run, but there’s no chance of it happening if the Giants struggle and Dart plays poorly. Bank that goodwill you built during Dart’s preseason run and hope it’s enough to convince ownership that the franchise is finally on the right track under center.
PFF’s All-Time Single-Season Teams: NFC East | PFF
Eli Manning was bound to be the Giants’ quarterback in this exercise, and he was never better than during New York’s Super Bowl-winning 2011 season. He set a career-high with a 90.1 PFF passing grade and set a PFF record that may stand forever with an outrageous 70 big-time throws. He earned an equally outstanding 91.2 PFF passing grade in the postseason that year.
In classic Giants fashion, their defense is spearheaded by an incredible defensive line. Michael Strahan retired in grand fashion after leading New York to a massive upset in Super Bowl 42 over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Dexter Lawrence has become an elite defensive tackle over the past three seasons. Damon Harrison Sr. was a PFF darling who led the NFL with a 92.0 PFF run-defense grade in 2017.
This week’s opponent
Dan Quinn: Jayden Daniels has a really rare focus, the best of the best have that | Pro Football Talk
“he has a rare focus about him and the best players I’ve been around have had that through my years,” Quinn said in his Wednesday press conference. “And so, I think he sees it more as an opportunity to say, ‘Alright, I’m going to go do this. I’m going to go find ways to improve and get better.’ And so, that’s what I see throughout the offseason with him, coming into training camp but he just keeps this focus about him that is really rare, and the best of the best have that.”
Joe Whitt Jr and Kliff Kingsbury talk about facing the Giants in Week 1 | Hogs Haven
Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr was up first, and he talked about the improvements he’s seen in the defense going into his second year in Washington. Communication has improved, and they’re working on finishing games, which was an issue last year.
Kingsbury was asked about the Giants defensive line, which had several good players like Dexter Lawrence, and just drafted Abdul Carter in the first round this year. He said it’s as good a line as they’ll face all season. The Commanders have been upgrading their offensive line, adding veterans and rookies, to help protect Jayden Daniels, and Washington’s overall offense.
PFF Grades and Data: Key insights for every NFL Week 1 game | PFF
Washington kicks off its second season under Dan Quinn with a ferocious pass-rush identity. The Commanders blitzed on 39% of dropbacks last year — the fifth-highest clip in the NFL — and paired that aggression with power, as their 21.5% knockdown rate (sacks plus hits) on blitzes also ranked fifth league-wide.
Around the league
Micah Parsons limited again on Thursday, Packers remain hopeful for Sunday | Pro Football Talk
Matthew Stafford not worried about back injury as Rams’ season opener vs. Texans nears | NFL.com
Jets starting RG Vera-Tucker out for season with torn triceps | ESPN.com
Seahawks, RT Abe Lucas agree to 3-year, $46 million extension | The Athletic
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