The New York Giants opened their mandatory minicamp Tuesday. Here are notes and observations from the day:
Attendance
As the name implies, this minicamp is mandatory, so there weren’t many absences. Only CB Tre Hawkins III (illness) and CB Aaron Robinson (knee) were not spotted at Tuesday’s practice.
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The Giants also had some players trying out, including CB Tre Herndon, TE Noah Togiai, TE Geor’quarius Spivey and OL Kellen Diesch.
Injury report
Three wide receivers left Tuesday’s practice after suffering injuries. Second-year player Chase Cota was carted off with an apparent left arm/shoulder injury; veteran Darius Slayton was slow to get up after he appeared to have slipped while running a route; and NFL sophomore Bryce Ford-Wheaton also left with what looked like an arm/shoulder injury.
Rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. went down on a kick return and looked shaken up, but he returned to action later in practice.
Offensive lineman Evan Neal (ankle) appeared for some of Tuesday’s practice, walking out a little later and spending time on a stationary bike. Neal has been rehabbing from surgery to repair a small fracture in his left ankle, which was originally diagnosed as a sprain. He didn’t play the final eight games of the 2023 season.
While Neal has been in attendance this spring, he has not participated in 11-on-11 drills viewable to the media as he rehabs. In last week’s final OTA practice open to the media, Neal was also on a bike. When asked Tuesday if Neal had suffered any setbacks in his recovery, coach Brian Daboll said Neal is “about the same.”
The 2022 first-round pick’s professional career hasn’t gotten off to a good start due to poor play and injury. This season, a move inside to guard isn’t off the table if he doesn’t improve at right tackle.
Also on the sidelines Tuesday working with trainers during practice: DL Timmy Horne (knee), WR Isaiah McKenzie (undisclosed), LB Micah McFadden (undisclosed), LB Isaiah Simmons (undisclosed), S Gervarrius Owens (undisclosed), CB Stanley Thomas-Oliver (undisclosed) and OLB Benton Whitley (undisclosed). WR Gunner Olszewski (injury) and TE Jack Stoll (undisclosed) were also spotted on the sidelines.
Observations
Jones health update
Daniel Jones (knee) expects to be ready for the first day of training camp next month. Jones said Tuesday that he’s hit every mark trainers and doctors have set for him and that he’s pushed to do as much as they will let him as he rehabs from a torn ACL.
“Knee feels good. Really good,” Jones said. “Every week, I’ve continued to feel better and better. (I’m) doing a lot of the same things I’ve been doing, but doing them better and feeling sharper, cleaner with a lot of my cuts. Kind of working on getting that explosiveness back and then taking steps in improving my change of direction and cutting from even where it was before the injury.”
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Jones didn’t participate in seven-on-seven drills as he’d been doing throughout the spring. He also didn’t play in 11-on-11s.
“I’m not a coach, I don’t make those calls,” Jones said of his participation. “I understand. Dabs wanted to get a lot of team work, and that’s what they did. Yeah, wasn’t my favorite thing, but that’s not my job.”
Daniel Jones: “I expect to be ready to go first day of training camp.” #giants
Says he’s hit every make trainers and doctors have set for him and that he’s pushed to do as much as they let him do pic.twitter.com/ywwnia9ixh
— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) June 11, 2024
During the upcoming summer break, Jones said he plans to mostly remain in New York. He also plans, as has become an annual tradition for him, to organize some workouts with teammates during the break.
With Jones sidelined Tuesday, his backups saw plenty of work during team drills. Drew Lock completed 10 of 15 passes and looks to be sharpening his connection with receiver Wan’Dale Robinson.
QB Tommy DeVito completed 11 of 16 passes, while Nathan Rourke completed 4 of 6.
GO DEEPER
Scouting reports on Giants rookies: Malik Nabers has gamebreaking talent but has room to grow
Waller retirement reaction
After mulling retirement all offseason, Darren Waller made it official on Sunday. The 31-year-old tight end played one season for the Giants after being traded to New York last year. Waller had an up-and-down NFL career, and in a retirement video shared that he had a medical emergency last November that shifted his perspective on football.
“I would say the first thing with Darren is my concern for him is more of a person than anything,” Daboll said. “I’m glad he’s doing well. Spoke to him yesterday. Communicated with him throughout the offseason. … I wish him well. Here for him if he needs anything.”
With Waller’s retirement, the Giants will gain $11.6 million in cap savings while eating $2.5 million in dead money in 2024 and $4.9 million in 2025.
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Waller’s retirement opens up opportunities for the remaining tight ends on the roster, but especially for Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager and fourth-round pick Theo Johnson, who each have pass-catching upside. Even though Waller played just 12 games due to injury last season, he finished second on the team in receiving yards (552). While the improved receiving corps should pick up some slack, Bellinger, Cager and/or Johnson will have an opportunity to make an impact, too.
Of note, Bellinger didn’t receive any targets during team periods in three of the four spring practices open to the media (Bellinger didn’t participate in the other open practice). Bellinger, who worked on sharpening his route running this offseason, said he has been held out of some team drills so Johnson and Cager can get more reps.
THEOOO 🙌 pic.twitter.com/IiENwe4PQl
— New York Giants (@Giants) June 11, 2024
Depth chart
— The Giants first-team offensive line carried over from OTAs and looked like this: left tackle Andrew Thomas, left guard Jermaine Eluemunor, center John Micheal Schmitz, right guard Jon Runyan and right tackle Josh Ezeudu.
— For the first time this spring (in an open practice), OL Matt Nelson earned some team reps. Nelson, who is returning from ankle surgery, worked as the third-team left tackle.
— Tuesday’s kick returners were running backs Devin Singletary, Dante Miller and Tracy, along with wide receivers Robinson and Ayir Asante.
— Tuesday’s punt returners were Tracy, Miller, Robinson, Slayton, Asante and wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie.
Still calling the shots
Daboll remained the offensive play caller during Tuesday’s practice. Practice Tuesday mimicked a game environment with players/coaches on the sidelines.
It continues to appear Daboll will take over the duties from offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, who called plays for the majority of his first two years in New York. While Daboll has been calling plays this spring, he doesn’t plan to decide on who will serve as the play caller during the season until the end of training camp.
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Play of the day
Robinson had an excellent day, tallying five receptions, and it was capped by a slant that he ran more than 50 yards for a touchdown. Robinson made the play against CB Cor’Dale Flott.
The best part of the play might have been the Spider-Man celebration (recreating the famous meme) among receivers Robinson, Jalin Hyatt and rookie Malik Nabers.
Wan'Dale to the 🏠! pic.twitter.com/O9lpK9bcpy
— New York Giants (@Giants) June 11, 2024
Quote of the day
“When I’m out there on the field, the level of competition rises at its highest — because my competition, I bring the dog; I bring the juice when I’m out there. So having me on the field, it’s been helpful to those older guys here. Just trying to bring some enthusiasm out there on the field. The celebrations, I know you’ve seen a lot of the celebrations, so just trying to get all the guys ready to practice.” — Nabers on the impact he’s making
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Next up
Mandatory minicamp runs through Wednesday, which features a team barbecue, before players disperse for a summer break ahead of training camp.
(Photo: Luke Hales / Getty Images)
