The story of Deonte Banks has been a roller coaster since the New York Giants drafted him in 2023. After a strong rookie season, his second and third years in the league were extremely disappointing. This season, however, Banks has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and a pleasant surprise as the Giants’ No. 1 cornerback.
Before his turnaround in 2026, Banks was essentially unplayable at cornerback last season. The Giants used him as a returner, and it appears they could turn to him in that role again this weekend after the injury to Charlie Jones (hand).
“It’s a possibility. I don’t think anything’s off the table. We talk about trying to win football games. And if that gives us the best opportunity to win a football game," special teams
coordinator Chris Horton said on Thursday. "We’re talking about one rep. We’re talking about one rep where we can go out there and have the most success. So I don’t think anything’s off the table from that regard.”
Banks was impressive as a returner last year. However, given how important he has been to the success of the Giants’ defense this season, it may not be wise to put him back in that role and risk an injury.
The Giants have made this mistake before. Cornerback Adoree' Jackson suffered a knee injury while returning kicks during the 2022 regular season. The team also used Jason Sehorn as a returner in 1998, a decision that cost them almost immediately and, it could be argued, altered the trajectory of Sehorn’s career.
With the Giants now shorthanded at returner, the team worked out several potential replacements: Maurice Alexander, River Cracraft and Steven Sims.
As of now, without signing any of those players, Banks may very well be their best option and the one that gives the team the best chance to win. Still, with the injury risk and the Giants’ history of having an important secondary player get hurt as a return man, the risk may not be worth the reward in this case.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants open to using CB Deonte Banks as a return man
