Giants Enter Final Week of Preseason With Questions Still to Be Answered

There is one week left for the New York Giants to figure things out.

One more preseason game. One more opportunity for players to make an impression. One more chance for the coaching staff to evaluate a roster that still has plenty of questions surrounding it before the difficult decisions of roster cuts arrive.

For head coach John Harbaugh, however, the evaluation process isn’t about allowing one play, one mistake or one impressive moment to determine a player’s future. It is about stepping back and looking at the entire body of work.

That philosophy was evident when Harbaugh was asked about running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., who had a mixed performance in the Giants’ latest preseason game. Tracy had several positive plays, including good runs, catches and pass-protection pickups, but a fumble once again put the spotlight on the mistakes that can cost a running back his opportunity.

Harbaugh acknowledged the importance of the mistake but refused to allow it to erase everything Tracy had done well.

“You don’t hold it against him,” Harbaugh said. “At the same time, you understand how valuable and important those things are to your football team, and he knows as well.”

That balance may define the Giants’ approach throughout this final week.

Tracy is not the only player being evaluated, and Harbaugh made it clear that the running back competition remains unsettled. The pecking order, as he described it, is still ongoing and will continue to be evaluated over the coming week.

The same philosophy applies throughout the roster. Harbaugh said coaches cannot allow emotion to become part of the decision-making process. They have to consider the player, the needs of the position group, the overall roster and ultimately what is best for the football team.

That becomes especially important when the margin between making the roster and being released can come down to very small differences.

One player who helped himself considerably in the latest preseason game was sixth-round rookie offensive lineman J.C. Davis.

Davis was given an assignment that Harbaugh acknowledged is not something young offensive linemen are asked to do very often. The Giants wanted to see whether Davis could handle an entire game at left tackle, including the physical demands of playing in heat and humidity.

He played every snap.

More importantly, he played well.

Harbaugh said Davis had “a lot of plus plays” and graded out very well, calling the performance a major step in his development and an important opportunity for the Giants to gain confidence in his ability.

For a sixth-round pick, that kind of performance can carry significant weight.

Davis doesn’t have the expectations that come with being a first-round selection, but Harbaugh made it clear that doesn’t mean the Giants don’t expect him to contribute. If his number is called during the regular season, the team needs to know that he is capable of stepping onto the field and doing his job.

The experience against NFL competition is part of the development process, particularly at offensive line, where Harbaugh believes everything happens extremely fast.

Young offensive linemen are forced to think, react and adjust almost immediately. The only way to become more comfortable with that speed is to experience it.

Davis got that experience.

He also got something just as important: the confidence of his coaching staff.

The Giants are seeing that kind of progress from several players as the preseason winds down.

Harbaugh pointed specifically to outside linebacker Trace Ford as one player who stood out, but he said there were so many players who performed well that singling out only one or two would be difficult.

The cornerback position may be the clearest example of a competition that has developed into a good problem for the Giants.

Deonte Banks has played well. Paulson Adebo has responded after a slower start. Greg Newsome II has continued to provide consistency, while Colton Hood is expected to return to practice this week.

Harbaugh also praised Korie Black and Art Green and pointed to strong play from the team’s nickel corners. Dru Phillips responded to giving up a wheel route by helping create a turnover, while Nic Jones has continued to play well when given opportunities.

For a coaching staff trying to build a roster, having multiple players making a legitimate case is a much better situation than having nobody separate themselves.

“We’re deep at corner,” Harbaugh said.

Now the challenge is determining how that depth translates into the final roster.

The offensive line presents another set of decisions.

Francis Mauigoa is expected to return to practice this week after dealing with a stinger. John Michael Schmitz Jr. received valuable game reps after missing the Giants’ first preseason game, while Jon Runyan Jr. was able to work alongside him.

Those repetitions were important because Harbaugh wants his offensive linemen communicating and working together in actual game situations.

Joshua Ezeudu is another player whose versatility could become important. The Giants have moved him back to guard, but he also returned to tackle during the fourth quarter. Harbaugh explained that the goal is to make Ezeudu capable of playing both right guard and right tackle.

That kind of flexibility can be extremely valuable over the course of an NFL season.

The Giants also appear to have come through the latest stretch of preseason football relatively healthy. Josh Ezeudu suffered a kick to the back of his leg but is expected to be day-to-day, with Harbaugh hopeful that he can play Friday night.

Other than that, Harbaugh said the team came through its intense stretch of practices and game action without any major injuries.

For a team approaching the regular season, that is almost as important as anything that happened on the field.

But as Harbaugh looks at the final week of preseason, he also understands that this is about more than football decisions.

For many of the players in the locker room, this could be the final week they spend with the Giants.

That reality is not lost on the head coach.

Harbaugh spoke at length about the human side of the roster-cut process and the relationships that develop inside an NFL locker room. Players competing for the same position can still support one another. They can root for each other while knowing that only some of them will ultimately remain.

His message to the players has been simple: don’t be afraid to dream.

Harbaugh told them that their dreams are not too big. If anything, they may not be big enough. Every player who has reached an NFL training camp has already accomplished something that very few football players ever will.

There are levels within that group, and the competition to be among the best never stops.

But Harbaugh wants his players to recognize what they have already accomplished while continuing to chase the next opportunity.

Some players will remain with the Giants after this week. Others will not. Some could eventually find their way back, just as defensive lineman Ben Barten did after being released by the Jets and returning to New York.

That is part of the unpredictable nature of the NFL.

Harbaugh even referenced Wellington Mara’s famous words, “Once a Giant, always a Giant,” when discussing the players who become part of the organization and the experience of being in an NFL camp.

For those players fighting for a roster spot, there is still one opportunity left.

And while Harbaugh and his coaching staff will continue to evaluate every snap, every player will have one final chance to make his case.

The Giants are also beginning to turn their attention toward the regular season. With several weeks between the preseason finale and the opener, Harbaugh said the team has to consider the lack of game competition when designing its practices.

Communication, timing and playing together in an actual game are things that are difficult to completely replicate in practice.

The Giants will continue working at a good tempo this week, although Thursday will be more of a walkthrough. Harbaugh also indicated that Malik Nabers could potentially shed his red jersey, although there is no urgency to make that happen.

The Giants still have time.

But the players fighting for their jobs don’t have much of it.

One week remains for them to show what they can do. One week remains for the coaching staff to separate the players who have done enough from those who still have something left to prove.

And if Harbaugh’s approach throughout training camp is any indication, the Giants won’t be making those decisions based on one play.

They’ll look at the entire picture.

For players like Tracy, Davis, Ezeudu, the cornerbacks and the many others competing for a place on this roster, the final preseason game is one more chapter.

After that, the decisions begin.

There is one week left for the New York Giants to figure things out.

One more preseason game. One more opportunity for players to make an impression. One more chance for the coaching staff to evaluate a roster that still has plenty of questions surrounding it before the difficult decisions of roster cuts arrive.

For head coach John Harbaugh, however, the evaluation process isn’t about allowing one play, one mistake or one impressive moment to determine a player’s future. It is about stepping back and looking at the entire body of work.

That philosophy was evident when Harbaugh was asked about running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., who had a mixed performance in the Giants’ latest preseason game. Tracy had several positive plays, including good runs, catches and pass-protection pickups, but a fumble once again put the spotlight on the mistakes that can cost a running back his opportunity.

Harbaugh acknowledged the importance of the mistake but refused to allow it to erase everything Tracy had done well.

“You don’t hold it against him,” Harbaugh said. “At the same time, you understand how valuable and important those things are to your football team, and he knows as well.”

That balance may define the Giants’ approach throughout this final week.

Tracy is not the only player being evaluated, and Harbaugh made it clear that the running back competition remains unsettled. The pecking order, as he described it, is still ongoing and will continue to be evaluated over the coming week.

The same philosophy applies throughout the roster. Harbaugh said coaches cannot allow emotion to become part of the decision-making process. They have to consider the player, the needs of the position group, the overall roster and ultimately what is best for the football team.

That becomes especially important when the margin between making the roster and being released can come down to very small differences.

One player who helped himself considerably in the latest preseason game was sixth-round rookie offensive lineman J.C. Davis.

Davis was given an assignment that Harbaugh acknowledged is not something young offensive linemen are asked to do very often. The Giants wanted to see whether Davis could handle an entire game at left tackle, including the physical demands of playing in heat and humidity.

He played every snap.

More importantly, he played well.

Harbaugh said Davis had “a lot of plus plays” and graded out very well, calling the performance a major step in his development and an important opportunity for the Giants to gain confidence in his ability.

For a sixth-round pick, that kind of performance can carry significant weight.

Davis doesn’t have the expectations that come with being a first-round selection, but Harbaugh made it clear that doesn’t mean the Giants don’t expect him to contribute. If his number is called during the regular season, the team needs to know that he is capable of stepping onto the field and doing his job.

The experience against NFL competition is part of the development process, particularly at offensive line, where Harbaugh believes everything happens extremely fast.

Young offensive linemen are forced to think, react and adjust almost immediately. The only way to become more comfortable with that speed is to experience it.

Davis got that experience.

He also got something just as important: the confidence of his coaching staff.

The Giants are seeing that kind of progress from several players as the preseason winds down.

Harbaugh pointed specifically to outside linebacker Trace Ford as one player who stood out, but he said there were so many players who performed well that singling out only one or two would be difficult.

The cornerback position may be the clearest example of a competition that has developed into a good problem for the Giants.

Deonte Banks has played well. Paulson Adebo has responded after a slower start. Greg Newsome II has continued to provide consistency, while Colton Hood is expected to return to practice this week.

Harbaugh also praised Korie Black and Art Green and pointed to strong play from the team’s nickel corners. Dru Phillips responded to giving up a wheel route by helping create a turnover, while Nic Jones has continued to play well when given opportunities.

For a coaching staff trying to build a roster, having multiple players making a legitimate case is a much better situation than having nobody separate themselves.

“We’re deep at corner,” Harbaugh said.

Now the challenge is determining how that depth translates into the final roster.

The offensive line presents another set of decisions.

Francis Mauigoa is expected to return to practice this week after dealing with a stinger. John Michael Schmitz Jr. received valuable game reps after missing the Giants’ first preseason game, while Jon Runyan Jr. was able to work alongside him.

Those repetitions were important because Harbaugh wants his offensive linemen communicating and working together in actual game situations.

Joshua Ezeudu is another player whose versatility could become important. The Giants have moved him back to guard, but he also returned to tackle during the fourth quarter. Harbaugh explained that the goal is to make Ezeudu capable of playing both right guard and right tackle.

That kind of flexibility can be extremely valuable over the course of an NFL season.

The Giants also appear to have come through the latest stretch of preseason football relatively healthy. Josh Ezeudu suffered a kick to the back of his leg but is expected to be day-to-day, with Harbaugh hopeful that he can play Friday night.

Other than that, Harbaugh said the team came through its intense stretch of practices and game action without any major injuries.

For a team approaching the regular season, that is almost as important as anything that happened on the field.

But as Harbaugh looks at the final week of preseason, he also understands that this is about more than football decisions.

For many of the players in the locker room, this could be the final week they spend with the Giants.

That reality is not lost on the head coach.

Harbaugh spoke at length about the human side of the roster-cut process and the relationships that develop inside an NFL locker room. Players competing for the same position can still support one another. They can root for each other while knowing that only some of them will ultimately remain.

His message to the players has been simple: don’t be afraid to dream.

Harbaugh told them that their dreams are not too big. If anything, they may not be big enough. Every player who has reached an NFL training camp has already accomplished something that very few football players ever will.

There are levels within that group, and the competition to be among the best never stops.

But Harbaugh wants his players to recognize what they have already accomplished while continuing to chase the next opportunity.

Some players will remain with the Giants after this week. Others will not. Some could eventually find their way back, just as defensive lineman Ben Barten did after being released by the Jets and returning to New York.

That is part of the unpredictable nature of the NFL.

Harbaugh even referenced Wellington Mara’s famous words, “Once a Giant, always a Giant,” when discussing the players who become part of the organization and the experience of being in an NFL camp.

For those players fighting for a roster spot, there is still one opportunity left.

And while Harbaugh and his coaching staff will continue to evaluate every snap, every player will have one final chance to make his case.

The Giants are also beginning to turn their attention toward the regular season. With several weeks between the preseason finale and the opener, Harbaugh said the team has to consider the lack of game competition when designing its practices.

Communication, timing and playing together in an actual game are things that are difficult to completely replicate in practice.

The Giants will continue working at a good tempo this week, although Thursday will be more of a walkthrough. Harbaugh also indicated that Malik Nabers could potentially shed his red jersey, although there is no urgency to make that happen.

The Giants still have time.

But the players fighting for their jobs don’t have much of it.

One week remains for them to show what they can do. One week remains for the coaching staff to separate the players who have done enough from those who still have something left to prove.

And if Harbaugh’s approach throughout training camp is any indication, the Giants won’t be making those decisions based on one play.

They’ll look at the entire picture.

For players like Tracy, Davis, Ezeudu, the cornerbacks and the many others competing for a place on this roster, the final preseason game is one more chapter.

After that, the decisions begin.