Good morning, New York Giants fans!
From Big Blue View
- Roster news: Giants place LB Micah McFadden on IR, claim WR/KR Xavier Gipson
- What the injury to Cowboys’ CB DaRon Bland means for the Giants
- Giants-Cowboys: When Dallas has the football
- Giants-Cowboys, Week 2: Can the Giants’ offense find traction against the Dallas defense?
- Giants-Cowboys 2025, Week 2: Everything you need to know as Giants seek to avoid 0-2 start
Other Giant observations
One angry NFL play at a time: Why Cam Skattebo has a legacy to uphold with NY Giants | The Record
Before Skattebo earned the “Angry Runs” scepter from NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt with his preferred physicality in a pair of plays from his NFL debut this past weekend, you can go back and revisit the most memorable run of his career to this point – one he chases every time he puts on a helmet and steps between the lines.
“The running over people stuff is gonna be a consistent thing throughout my career,” Skattebo said. “That blitz pickup is also fun, but we want more.
We need to do more, and if my reps go up, I have to do more. I think that’s what we’re all hoping for.”
PFT’s Mike Florio on how short the leash in on Russell Wilson
The Giants are ready for whenever Jaxson Dart takes the reins from Russell Wilson | New York Post
Each week, Dart and Daboll meet to go over all this, with every rep on the scout team studied and analyzed.
“You try to play that like a game the best you can with your timing, with your rhythm, with your eye control, with your mechanics, with when to take off, when not to take off,” Daboll said. “You treat those show-team reps, if you will, like game reps. And then when you’re standing behind the offense when they’re going, he’s taking game reps on every play, along with [third string] Jameis [Winston]. And they’re back there 10 yards going through the mechanics, motions, shifts, protection calls, re-identifications. They’re playing the game, not with the 10 other guys, but they’re playing it behind the huddle and taking advantage of every opportunity they can.”
5 Giants players to watch Week 2 in Dallas | Giants.com
Bobby Okereke was a tackling machine in Week 1 as he led the team with 16 total tackles, eight more than anyone else on the defense. However, the veteran linebacker struggled a bit in coverage with four receptions allowed (on four targets) for 46 yards. Following the injury to Micah McFadden, which Daboll said on Wednesday will sideline the fourth-year linebacker for Sunday’s game, the Giants are going to need Okereke and Darius Muasau to step up in the middle of the defense.
The Cowboys ran the ball 22 times against the Eagles, compared to 34 pass attempts. Running back Javonte Williams gained 54 yards on 15 carries (3.6 avg.) but was able to find the end zone twice. Perhaps more importantly for the two Giants linebackers is the matchup against Jake Ferguson. The veteran tight end has developed into one of Prescott’s favorite targets, evidenced by his six targets last week (second-most on the team). Ferguson turned that into five receptions for 23 yards, but the tight end figures to play a big role in Dallas’ game plan this week.
Brian Daboll Backs NY Giants Starting Center John Michael Schmitz | SI.com
Against Washington, Schmitz allowed a sack and a quarterback hit. He hasn’t shown the type of power to move guys off the point of attack, an issue that continued in Week 1. However, Schmitz still gave up far too much space in pass pro on his back pedal, which contributed to the collapse of the pocket. Despite the metrics, head coach Brian Daboll appears to remain firmly behind Schmitz.
“John Michael is tough. He’s smart. He does a good job of getting everything set up for the offensive linemen,” Daboll said. “I think he’s a strong player. He’s tough. He’s a finisher. I think he’s done a nice job for us. Are there plays that he wishes he had back? Sure. Just like every player, just like every coach, but I have confidence in John Michael as our center.”
New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys: 5 storylines to watch | USAToday.com
Will the offense finally wake up? The six-point output in Week 1 was the lowest in the NFL and a major disappointment after the Giants scored a total of 107 points in their three preseason games. They were 31st in scoring last season with a 16.1 points per game average. In 2023, they were 30th at 15.6 points per game.
In training camp and preseason games, we saw Wilson and the other quarterbacks (Dart, Jameis Winston, and Tommy DeVito) have success throwing the ball down the field. In the opener, the longest completion went for 25 yards. As per Sharp Football, the Giants punted on a league-high 66.7% of their possessions in Week 1 after ranking 30th in the department in 2024 (42.1%).
Russell Wilson deserves everyone’s respect on his way out the Giants door | The Athletic
Once upon a time, the quarterback of the New York Giants was a scaled-down titan in the land of giants, the passer who won more NFL games in his first nine seasons (98) than Brady, Manning or any other all-time great. This is a fact worth remembering and celebrating because 36-year-old Russell Wilson might be making the final start of his NFL career Sunday against Dallas, a franchise that has completely dominated the Giants.
Wilson could buy himself a little more time with a throwback performance on the road. He could follow up his alarming loss to Washington in his 200th career regular-season start by going on one last run that holds off Jaxson Dart, the swaggering first-rounder out of Ole Miss who seems as ready to play as Wilson did out of Wisconsin in 2012. Or Wilson could look old and slow against Dallas and compel his desperate coach, Brian Daboll, to act on his self-preservation instincts while also giving the fans what they apparently want.
LT Andrew Thomas taking part in practice
Which 0-1 NFL teams need a win most? | CBSSports.com
Jobs on the Line: The Giants, meanwhile, have a quarterback whose job could be on the line — and that of their coach and general manager could soon be as well. The calls have already started for Jaxson Dart to start over Russell Wilson, even with New York’s absurdly tough upcoming schedule. If Wilson looks lost again this week against the Cowboys, those calls will only get louder. And if Brian Daboll doesn’t make a change, people will start calling for his job next.
2025 NFL Trade Block Big Board Entering Week 2 | Bleacher Report
6. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, New York Giants. New York will find it virtually impossible to keep all three of its top pass-rushers long-term. Thibodeaux is slated to be a free agent in 2027, one year before Carter becomes extension-eligible. There should be no shortage of teams looking for a pass-rusher with Thibodeaux’s upside.
The Oregon product won’t bring the high-level haul that the Dallas Cowboys got for Micah Parsons, but New York should expect a quality Day 2 draft selection. Projected Trade Value: 2026 2nd-Round Pick
This week’s opponent
Dak Prescott can win his 14th straight vs. Giants on Sunday, second-longest streak ever | Pro Football Talk
Prescott has won his last 13 starts against the Giants, and if the Cowboys beat the Giants again on Sunday to make it 14 in a row, he’ll have the second-longest winning streak for a quarterback against one opponent in NFL history.
Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese, who won 17 consecutive starts against the Bills from 1968 to 1979, has the all-time record. Prescott could tie Griese’s record if the Cowboys sweep the Giants both this year and next year.
2025 NFL defensive line rankings ahead of Week 2: Steelers stumble, Commanders surge | PFF
Despite losing Micah Parsons, the Cowboys’ defensive line made plays against the dominant Eagles offensive line. Their 12 run stops led the league, as the wealth was spread among five different players, each accumulating two run stops. Osa Odighizuwa’s 74.1 and Marshawn Kneeland’s 73.1 respective PFF run-defense grades were the tops on the unit.
Trevon Diggs ‘felt good’ in return for Cowboys, still ramping up | DallasCowboys.com
His pitch count last Thursday was expected, and he wants to continue to take steps before rushing back to being on the field full-time in order to prevent another injury.
“Still working,” Diggs said. “Just a little bit more [snaps] than last week is best and the smartest and safest thing to do. I feel like just increasing it a couple more plays and just working my way slowly.”
Around the league
Chiefs’ Xavier Worthy returns to practice. Could he play Sunday vs. Eagles? | The Athletic
Ed Oliver did not practice Thursday due to ankle injury | Pro Football Talk
Vikings LB Blake Cashman to IR, out at least next four games | ESPN.com
John Lynch on Mac Jones: I’m excited to see him go show what he can do | Pro Football Talk
Grant Delpit makes bold claim ahead of Browns-Ravens: ‘Not hard’ to tackle Derrick Henry | NFL.com
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