Three takeaways from the start of Giants training camp
Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart at training camp on Sunday. Credit: Ed Murray
The Giants wrapped up their first full week of training camp on Tuesday. A week from this Saturday, it'll be time for their first preseason game at Buffalo on Aug. 9.
Here are three takeaways from the first six practices.
1. Jaxson Dart is firmly in a backup QB battle.
There’s no quarterback controversy with Russell Wilson opening the season as the starter. But Jaxson Dart has had every opportunity to be his backup.
Dart typically has been the second quarterback on the field and sometimes he’s shuffled in and out reps with Jameis Winston. The rookie first-round pick had good moments, such as his touchdown pass to Cam Skattebo to end the second day of camp. And he’s had bad moments, like Tuesday when he was shuffled into a series that Winston started and committed a false start penalty followed by a bobbled snap.
It’s part of the process. Dart’s been good with short to intermediate throws. He holds the ball a bit too long, though that's normal for a young quarterback learning to make decisions quicker than usual. But the early returns are promising as he’s firmly in a backup battle with Winston.
Nobody expected Dart to set camp on fire and be the starter for the Sept. 7 opener at Washington. But what he’s done is show good potential, being OK with mistakes and learning from them. That’s all one can expect and so far, Dart’s done just fine.
2. Receiver injuries lead to more opportunities
There might not be reason to worry about Malik Nabers leaving practice Tuesday with a shoulder injury. But if he’s limited along with injured receivers Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson, that opens the door for more receivers to make plays.
Ihmir Smith-Marsette, the Giants’ kick returner, has jumped in first-team reps. Free-agent signee Montrell Washington impressed Tuesday with a diving catch and later hurdling a teammate during return drills.
Undrafted rookies Beaux Collins and Dalen Cambre also got some first-team reps. They haven’t been perfect, but that’s expected when you suddenly move up to different roles.
“It’s different when you’re running with the threes and fours at times and you get thrown in there with the ones,” coach Brian Daboll said. “There’s a different sense of emotion for these guys, so you try to do that as best as you can to develop them. They’ve done some nice things. They’ve also done some things that we have to get fixed.”
Nabers, Hyatt and Robinson will return soon. Their absence, however, has been a good chance for younger receivers to make a mark and some have certainly done that.
3. Three running backs is a magic number
The Giants’ running back pecking order has a new addition making waves. Rookie Cam Skattebo could lead to a three-back rotation.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. is entrenched with the first team. Devin Singletary has gotten first- and second-team reps. And then there’s Skattebo impressing with mostly second-team duty.
Skattebo turned heads with his receiving ability early on. He was mobbed by teammates after his near touchdown where he caught a tipped pass but toe-tapped the sidelines. While his power game has folks excited, the Arizona State product is showing glimpses he wants to be as versatile as Tracy or Singletary. So perhaps don’t just call Tracy and Skattebo the next “Thunder and Lightning” just yet.
“We both can catch out the backfield, we both can pass protect,” Tracy said of Skattebo. “So, it's not like when Cam comes in, ‘Oh we’re running the ball downhill.’ No, he can do really anything, just like I can do really anything. So, it’s a really good addition to our running back room.”
Tracy’s confidence shows he’s taking strides in leadership like fellow second-year mates Nabers and Tyler Nubin. For Skattebo, it’s critical for him to show in preseason that his speed and pass-catching can translate to NFL speed.
Where does that leave Singletary? He’s RB2 for now and he still has value with his experience and versatility. With Skattebo’s play, there’s good depth and a hope that he’ll fit in not just as a change of pace, but another all-around back.
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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