Giants offensive tackle James Hudson fighting the good fight with new teammates
Giants offensive tackle James Hudson during training camp in East Rutherford, N.J., on Thursday. Credit: Ed Murray
James Hudson joined the Giants this season as a swing tackle. They probably didn’t expect him to swing his emotions as a firestarter on the field.
Hudson, signed this offseason, tussled Brian Burns to the ground during a fight in OTAs this spring.
On Monday during one-on-one drills, Hudson clubbed Kayvon Thibodeaux to the ground. They had to be separated.
The energy sent a message, but Hudson is no angry giant. He calmly noted that his emotion comes from being sidelined with a season-ending shoulder injury after four games last season.
“Had a torn labrum that I ended up getting fixed earlier rather than later,” Hudson told Newsday on Thursday. “Just missing that time, man, I had a lot of time to sit down, think, reevaluate things and just my mindset.
“Every time that I take the field, I just play with the utmost energy and attitude and just try to put my best foot forward . . . and leave nothing in the tank.”
The injury ended his tenure with the Browns, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2021. The Giants signed him to a two-year, $12 million contract and he’s been a spark, even it means charging up his defensive counterparts.
With Andrew Thomas injured and on the PUP list, Hudson has taken first-team reps at left tackle. He’s got the important role of protecting Russell Wilson and dealing with Burns and Thibodeaux coming at him.
Even if things get intense, the battles have been beneficial.
“It definitely turns me up even more,” Hudson said. “But it makes me lock in. Yeah, we’re chirping, but when we line up at the line of scrimmage, I got to lock in and know what it is I have to do on that play for my technique.”
His intensity even carries over in meetings. Coach Brian Daboll said he tries to get Hudson to smile every day, but it doesn’t always work.
Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said Hudson’s edge sometimes has to be reined in or “he’ll just dive off the edge of a boat.” But Eluemunor also welcomed what helps raise the standard for the offensive line.
“He’s just out there trying to get better and he’s taking it upon himself to truly set the tone, which we love,” Eluemunor said. “For us to be the offensive line we want to be this year, you got to have guys like that on the team, so we’re happy to have him.”
The shoulder injury may have motivated Hudson, but he also credited a former teammate for inspiration: Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett.
Facing a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year for four years, Hudson learned in practice to be just as aggressive as the player rushing him.
“He’s a guy that doesn’t take plays off. He just pushes you and forces you to get better,” Hudson said of Garrett. “It’s either get better or you’re going to get embarrassed. I just bring that here and it’s working out.”
If another fight breaks out in camp, don’t be surprised if Hudson is in the middle of it. At the same time, his play has filled a valuable role with Thomas out. He’s learning to harness his aggressiveness, but his approach has fit in well up front.
Call him “The Enforcer,” if you will, but understand why Hudson has his fury. He need only look at his shoulder to remember why he’s carrying that extra attitude.
“I had the edge before,” Hudson said. “But with that being my first time having surgery and really missing a significant time . . . I feel like it just lit a different fire.”
Nabers returns
Malik Nabers was back at practice taking first-team reps after leaving Tuesday with a shoulder injury. He didn’t miss a beat, catching a 50-yard pass from Wilson while falling down after freeing himself from tight coverage by Cor’Dale Flott.
Nabers wasn’t the only receiver who returned. Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson were back in team drills after being sidelined most of the week.
Blue notes
Rookie defensive tackle Darius Alexander split reps with the first and second team because of several absences. Fellow tackle D.J. Davidson was away because of a personal matter, Daboll said, that was unrelated to his apparent hamstring injury suffered Tuesday. Elijah Chatman and Jordon Riley also were not on the field for undisclosed reasons.
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.
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