How the first-place Giants being an underdog is actually an advantage, plus other things to watch in Washington

First-place Giants embrace underdog mentality

The Giants are 3-1 heading into Sunday, but they’re not getting ahead of themselves. It's a long season.

It’s why players, coaches and personnel have been wearing black T-shirts with “1-0” on it at the team facility. Cornerback Greg Newsome II said the Giants still have an underdog mentality despite being in first place in the NFC East.

 The Giants' next three opponents have a combined 2-10 record, including the 1-3 Commanders on Sunday. But Newsome offered a simple answer about why the Giants are remaining hungry.

“3-1 can easily turn into 3-14," Newsome said. “If you're not careful enough . . . if you're not humble, you will get humbled. So at the end of the day, we have to continue to have that mindset that we had in the beginning of the season, and we're going to carry it the entire way.”

Stopping Daniels

The Giants face a tough test with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels returning Sunday after missing the last two games with an elbow injury.

Daniels is 3-0 against the Giants. He’s also the most mobile quarterback this defense has faced this season. It’s not an easy choice, but linebacker Abdul Carter said they’d rather put pressure on Daniels to run around than stay in the pocket.

“We’re gonna have a plan for that, but with the injury he has, we want him to run,” Carter said. “We kind of encourage it. See how he reacts. Is he going to play comfortably? Is he going to play normal? So it’s about rushing smart, rushing together, especially with somebody who can run.”

John Harbaugh echoed those sentiments. Even though the Commanders won’t have receiver Stefon Diggs and face a game-time decision with receiver Terry McLaurin, Daniels can do so much as a passer and runner that the Giants know they have to keep an eye on him at all times.

“He's proved himself to be a very, very dangerous quarterback, obviously,” Harbaugh said.

New center of attention

The Giants could have a battle brewing at center.

Bryan Hudson made his first career start last Sunday ahead of John Michael Schmitz. Schmitz was on the sideline after missing practice two days earlier because of a personal matter.

This week, Hudson took first-team reps during open viewing portions at practice. Harbaugh declined to say who will start against the Commanders.

Schmitz had his struggles the previous two seasons but has started every game for which he's been healthy since the Giants drafted him in 2023.

Hudson’s journey prepared him to stay ready for a bigger role. He went undrafted in 2024, was waived by two teams and was on the Giants' practice squad for parts of two seasons (2024 and 2025) before making the roster in August as a backup center. Now he’s in line to make his second start in his seventh career game.

“I wouldn’t have wanted it to have happened any other way," Hudson told Newsday. "It’s given me definitely a perspective to just be thankful for every rep and to take advantage of every rep, whether it's in practice, in a game or whatever.”

Tracy adjusting to special teams

After fumbling in the Giants’ season-opening win, Tyrone Tracy Jr. has had only two carries the last three games. He also has been featured more on special teams as a kick returner.

It’s a demotion of sorts for the Giants’ leading rusher the previous two years, but Tracy said he doesn’t see it that way. He’s embraced a new role to show more of his skills, and it paid off last Sunday with a career-high 55-yard kickoff return.

“It’s just the love of the game,” he told Newsday. “Like I don’t care where I’m at. If I’m on front line or on kickoff return, I’m gonna do my best to make sure I’m putting my team in a good position.”

He’s not the only former starter to see more special teams work. Tight end Theo Johnson is going through the same change.  It didn’t stop Johnson from catching a touchdown pass last week, and it shows what Harbaugh has preached about being a meritocracy. Last season’s success doesn’t matter this year.

Tracy thinks it's a chance to prove he can be a more versatile player besides running or catching passes. He’s staying ready to take handoffs but until then, he’s seeing the positives in another position.

“A lot of people would kill to do that out in the world,” Tracy said. “So who am I to go out there and not put my best work or my 'A' game out there for everybody to see?" 

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.