Giants fall to Jets as backups run show in final tune-up

The Giants didn’t think they needed to learn more about Daniel Jones. Or Darren Waller. Or, for that matter, rookie center John Michael Schmitz.

The Giants saw everything they needed this summer with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence. And, interestingly, there were no plans to further assess two rookie cornerbacks, Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins. Or Jason Pinnock, the 24-year-old security guard who lines up among the starters.

It was clear right away that coach Brian Daboll saw Saturday night’s 32-24 loss in the preseason finale to the Jets as the last look at a group of players on the fringes of the roster.

It was obvious that the more snaps a player received in this game, the less likely he was to make Tuesday’s roster, when all NFL teams must cut from 90 to 53 players.

It was obvious that Daboll didn’t care whether the Jets launched Aaron Rodgers in his first preseason action since 2018 or that coach Robert Saleh chose to put his starting offensive and defensive units on the field for a few playoffs. in the first quarter.

Daboll did what he thought was best for his own team and opted for safety above all else in a preseason-ending loss at MetLife Stadium.

What all of that meant was that Jones only played one preseason streak, a 10-game, 75-yard touchdown last week against the Panthers.

It also meant running back Saquon Barkley didn’t come off the pitch even once this summer as Daboll worked with Barkley in training but will wait to get him a real hit until the real game. , September 10 against the Cowboys.

There has, however, been some interesting usage by players. There was no way to really know what was going to happen this summer with Sterling Shepard.

He had just undergone reconstructive knee surgery which limited him to three games last season and has only played seven games in 2021 after a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Shepard was on the physically unable to perform list to start training camp, but after a few days he was activated and hasn’t faltered since.

Shepard was named captain for that game and, along with linebacker Jihad Ward, represented the Giants for the coin toss.

Shepard got the start at a wide receiver spot and he also lined up as a punt returner. He didn’t call for a good catch, but was tackled – after not calling for a good catch – on his first opportunity to come back.

Has Shepard done enough to stay? It is a crowded reception hall and there are many options.

Newly drafted Isaiah Simmons, who arrived Friday, not only was in uniform, but he actually started at an outside linebacker position.

Simmons, in the first third of the defense, rushed the passer – and actually put good pressure on Rodgers, forcing an errant pass.

Simmons — the Cardinals’ No. 8 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft — didn’t have enough time to learn much about coordinator Wink Martindale’s defense and therefore send him forward to go after the passer was the most natural starting point.

Jihad Ward ran into Rodgers after a pass and the two chewed after the play – Rodgers appeared to object to contact. It happened again moments later.

Befitting a third and final preseason game, this was a save-centric situation for the Giants.

Tyrod Taylor started at quarterback. Schmitz, having locked down the center position after a strong summer, did not play. Starting tackles Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal did not play.

Inside the offensive line, Josh Ezeudu started at left guard, Mark Glowinski started at right guard, and Ben Bredeson started at center.

It remains to be seen how it will go in two weeks for the opening of the season. It could be Ezeudu and Glowinski flanking Schmitz, or it could be Bredeson moving to one of the guard posts.

Jones’ primary targets all stayed away from the field.

That means Waller and receivers Darius Slayton, Parris Campbell and Isaiah Hodgins will be rested and ready for the Cowboys.

Tommy DeVito, vying for a spot on the practice squad, showed courage again after replacing Taylor midway through the first quarter.

DeVito missed a pass intended for David Sills that was intercepted by Brandon Echols and returned 67 yards for a touchdown. DeVito rallied and completed 13 of 22 passes for 126 yards in the first half.