Giants training camp takeaways: Arrow pointing up on Jaxson Dart, offensive line

New York Times

6 days ago

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants conducted their first full pads practice of training camp on Monday. The first padded practice is always a major checkpoint on the path to the regular season.
'We get to be more physical, like play some real football now,' said excited rookie outside linebacker Abdul Carter before his first padded practice.
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Here's everything that happened during a physical practice conducted in grueling 90-degree heat:
Wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton suffered a torn Achilles during Sunday's practice, so he obviously wasn't in attendance. Ford-Wheaton was placed on injured reserve following Monday's practice.
The injury is a brutal blow for the third-year veteran who had his entire rookie season wiped away after tearing his ACL in the preseason. Ford-Wheaton was a key special teams player last season and had an inside track to a roster spot.
'My heart aches for that man,' coach Brian Daboll said. 'We'll certainly miss him. It's just an unfortunate thing for Bryce. I feel terrible for him.'
RB Eric Gray (knee), LT Andrew Thomas (foot) and OLB Victor Dimukeje weren't spotted on the field. All three players have been sidelined since the start of camp.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't devastated! I did everything by the book! Didn't take a single shortcut, left no stone unturned, invested everything into my body and my health this year. I'm not sure why me but I promise I'm not going out on these terms. It's a long road ahead…
— Bryce Ford-Wheaton (@Brycewheat3) July 27, 2025
Wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson was held out of practice after getting kneed in the quad by safety Dane Belton in a collision during Sunday's practice. Daboll said Robinson's injury is 'nothing serious.'
It's been a rough stretch for Robinson, who was steamrolled by outside linebacker Brian Burns in a nasty collision during Friday's practice. Robinson needed liquid stitches to close a gash in his upper lip, but he was otherwise fine after getting run over by the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Burns.
Burns returned to full participation after sitting out Sunday's practice.
'I was in a lot of pain, but after we got the scans and everything, it was all good,' Burns said.
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Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt was held out for a third straight practice after leaving the second practice of camp due to cramping. Daboll described Hyatt on Friday as being 'a little tight in the lower body.' This is the second absence for Hyatt since the spring and after he added significant weight this offseason.
Cornerback Tre Hawkins, who has worked with the second-team defense throughout camp, was running on the side during team periods during practice. Undrafted rookie wide receiver Da'Quan Felton spent most of practice riding an exercise bike. There's no word yet on the injuries to Hawkins or Felton.
It was a quiet day for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart as practice was focused on the run game. Dart exclusively worked as the second-team quarterback, completing 4-of-6 passes.
The limited passing day followed Dart's best practice of camp on Sunday. Dart completed 11-of-13 passes in that practice, hitting multiple intermediate throws that demonstrated his increased comfort. Dart said after Sunday's practice the game was starting to slow down for him. He certainly looked more comfortable than the first three practices, when he held the ball excessively in the pocket.
Dart capped Monday's practice with a naked bootleg for a first down. The offense was in a situational period where they were trying to run out the clock while backed up deep in their territory. Dart faked a handoff to the left and then booted to the right. He out-ran unblocked outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux to the edge and then alertly slid inbounds after securing the first down.
The arrow is pointing up for Dart the past two days. Now the challenge will be continuing his progress as the defensive looks get more exotic.
Daboll didn't waste any time putting the trenches to work after so many pass-heavy practices. Starting quarterback Russell Wilson only attempted four passes on his 15 reps.
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It was an encouraging first day for the offensive line. It helped that nose tackle Dexter Lawrence continues to be a limited participant as he works back from a dislocated elbow. Lawrence didn't participate in any one-on-one reps against the offensive linemen. In team drills, Lawrence easily shed a block from left tackle James Hudson to blow up a Devin Singletary run on one of his reps. Center John Michael Schmitz effectively sealed Lawrence to open a hole for an explosive Tyrone Tracy run.
Rookie running back Cam Skattebo took reps with the starting offense for the first time Monday after a string of productive practices. It's difficult to evaluate long runs in practice since the defense can't tackle, but Skattebo's vision is evident as he finds creases and cut-back lanes.
Skattebo's hands have been his most impressive attribute early in camp. He notched a big gain Monday on a well-blocked screen play. For all of Skattebo's battering ram highlights in college, he might make his most immediate impact in the passing game.
It remains to be seen how Skattebo's physical running style will translate to the NFL. The 5-foot-11, 215-pounder appears determined to find out, as he lowers his shoulder and drives his legs through contract with defenders. The edge he plays with is a lock to get on the nerves of defensive teammates because they aren't allowed to tackle ball carriers to the ground in practice. Veteran linebacker Bobby Okereke drove Skattebo into the ground on a run late in practice.
Of Wilson's four attempts, three were directed to wide receiver Malik Nabers. That ratio has been consistent throughout camp. The duo didn't produce any highlights in the run-centric practice, but Wilson has fed Nabers daily.
The 36-year-old Wilson showed some speed on a scramble after being chased from the backfield by blitzing safety Jevon Holland. Wilson made a daring lateral to Singletary downfield at the end of the run.
Evan Neal continued to rotate at first-team right guard with Greg Van Roten. It's too early to know if Neal can successfully make the transition from tackle, but the strengths of the 6-foot-7, 340-pounder appear better utilized inside.
Neal's size and strength are an asset on double teams in the run game. He also held up well in pass protection in his one-on-one reps against defensive tackle Cory Durden and outside linebacker Chauncey Golston.
@camskattebo5 shifty … and he gone off the hip of Evan Neal pic.twitter.com/louJCEcyOs
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) July 27, 2025
One-on-one pass rush drills are tilted toward the defense, so Monday's performance by the offensive line was particularly impressive. Backup tackles Marcus Mbow and Stone Forsythe struggled in their matchups. Otherwise, the group held its own.
Forsythe was sent reeling by a club from the extraordinarily powerful Carter. Eluemunor had a good rep slowing a rush by Carter around the edge. Hopefully Thomas returns soon enough so he'll be able to square off against the dominant rookie.
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Hudson whiffed on an inside move by Thibodeaux. On their next rep, Hudson hit Thibodeaux in the face before driving the defender into the ground. There was heated talk from both players after the rep, continuing the tension that first surfaced in the spring. The period ended after that rep, with defensive line coach Andre Patterson huddling the players for a message.
Hudson and Thibodeaux again got into during a team period after Thibodeaux's helmet popped off. Hudson has been getting under the skin of the edge rushers since he arrived in the spring. It's only a matter of time before that boils over into a fight.
During the last rep of 1v1's, James Hudson clubs Kayvon Thibodeaux almost causing our first camp fight. Andre Patterson gathers the unit afterwards and has some words with them pic.twitter.com/NRXPaLrzJt
— Justin Penik (@JustinPenik) July 28, 2025
Undrafted rookie wide receiver Dalen Cambre took reps with the starting offense with Hyatt and Robinson sidelined. Cambre also played with the starting offense during an install period. Nabers and Darius Slayton were the only other healthy wide receivers with the starters during that period.
Cambre was a special teams ace at Louisiana, so his odds of making the team increased with Ford-Wheaton's injury. The Giants also re-signed receiver/returner Gunner Olszewski on Monday. Olszewski missed all of last season after suffering a major groin/core injury during pregame warmups in Week 1. Olszewski had been dealing with the injury heading into the season. The veteran adds depth at slot receiver and returner.
Cor'Dale Flott and Deonte Banks continued their rotation at the No. 2 cornerback spot. Monday was Flott's turn to be first in the rotation, but they alternate each team period.
Flott made a nice pass breakup on a post from Dart to wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey during a period with the second-team defense. Humphrey could have done a better job shielding Flott, as the defender was able to poke the ball away from behind. The veteran Humphrey has not impressed early in camp.
The quarterbacks employed hard counts while backed up near their goal line during one period. Multiple false-start penalties led to Daboll's first outburst of camp, as he ripped the offensive linemen for their lack of discipline.
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Special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial gave his unit an earful for a period he deemed substandard later in practice.
Quarterback Jameis Winston, who worked exclusively with the third-team on Monday, was forced to call a timeout during one period because he couldn't hear the play call from offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. Kafka has been the play-caller during every open practice this offseason.
Backup cornerback Art Green made a nice one-handed interception on a deep ball from Winston. Winston underthrew wide receiver Jordan Bly on a deep crossing route, and Green turned his head to find the ball and make the impressive snag.
One-handed pick 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/BhkLymmfnp
— New York Giants (@Giants) July 28, 2025
'Everybody feels encouraged and excited and hyped up at the beginning of the season. At the same time, we look great on paper, but we ain't do s— yet. It's all on us. We can take this as far as we want to go. Everything looks good with the names we have and the potential and this and that, but until we put that s— to stamp, ain't really nothing to talk about.' — OLB Brian Burns
The Giants will conduct their sixth training camp practice at 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday. The session is open to fans.
(Photo of Dart: Kevin R. Wexler / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)