The Giants are expected to sit most if not all of their starters Saturday night against the Jets at MetLife Stadium.
But there is still plenty to watch that can impact their team in the preseason finale with Tuesday’s cut from 90 to 53 players looming. Here is a rundown of what to look for:
EVAN NEAL RAMPING UP
Right tackle Evan Neal should see his first game action of the preseason, his first game reps of any kind since having surgery on a fractured left ankle in early January.
It is still unclear what the former number seven overall pick can be for the Giants even in a depth and backup capacity in his third NFL season. It’s possible he could start the season on the physically unable to perform list if he’s not truly ready for a full workload.
So putting good snaps on tape and coming out of the preseason finale healthy will be a good way for Neal to hopefully set some kind of foundation for 2024.
Center John Michael Schmitz might play a handful of snaps in this game after being on a 15-snap count last week in Houston. If he doesn’t start, Austin Schlottmann would get the nod.
RELIABLE VET RECEIVERS
Isaiah Hodgins has seven touchdown catches the last two years and was a key part of the Giants’ run to the playoffs in 2022. But he was marginalized last season, has had a quiet camp and is in a precarious position as he takes the field Saturday on the roster bubble.
Allen Robinson, meanwhile, arrived as a free agent with pedigree has made a case during camp as a versatile and reliable backup behind the Giants top four. It’s unclear how many receivers Joe Schoen intends to keep, but it’s possible these two veterans could be vying for one spot.
KEYING ON CORNERS
The Giants don’t appear to have sufficient talent or depth at the corner position, so any playmaking by players in their secondary would be welcome.
Second-year corner Tre Hawkins was named the Giants’ defensive player of the game in their first outing against the Detroit Lions. And since he currently profiles as one of their top reserves, it would be a positive to see Hawkins continue to hold his own.
Regardless, expect corner to be a priority position via either a trade, free agent signing or waiver claim early next week.
FINAL CUTLETS
Tommy DeVito has not had an impressive training camp, but he is expected to play all four quarters on Saturday night. And with Drew Lock injured and only active still as an emergency option, it’s now possible the Giants do keep three quarterbacks and DeVito after all through cutdown day into the regular season.
Assistant GM Brandon Brown also made sure to insert DeVito’s name into the depth chart that was presented to him with only Jones and Lock as a Week 1 hypothetical during his recent press conference. And it’s possible the Giants aren’t interested in releasing a local favorite when a large chunk of the fan base at the moment gets more excited by seeing DeVito on the field than anything else.
PRACTICE CARRY OVER
The Giants’ and Jets’ starters aren’t playing, but that doesn’t mean Brian Daboll’s team isn’t trying make a point against Robert Saleh’s club in the wake of Saucer Gardner throwing shade at Daniel Jones and Darius Slayton sticking up for his quarterback and team.
There even appears to be a dispute about just how significantly the Jets prevailed in Wednesday’s joint session in Florham Park on the cluttered social media airwaves. So Saleh’s team likely will be trying to settle that debate once and for all, too.
