Giants eager to see how they stack up against Lions on practice field, in preseason opener
New York Giants safety Jason Pinnock (27) jumps over New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Center, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in East Rutherford. Credit: Corey Sipkin
Finally, the Giants will get to play against an opponent. And not just any opponent.
The Detroit Lions, who were a play or two away from making the Super Bowl last year, and the Giants will practice together during the next couple of days ahead of Thursday night’s preseason opener at MetLife Stadium.
Asked if this is an early measuring stick, Giants safety Jason Pinnock said yes.
“It’s a team full of grit and that’s hard-working, got a little confidence,” he said, “a little something to them now, so [we’re] ready to test what we got going on.”
Facing Lions quarterback Jared Goff and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown should provide a test “for sure,” Pinnock said.
“Let it all come together now,” he added. “Against someone not in our colors, get a little more competitive.”
The Lions will join the Giants on their practice field on Monday and Tuesday, and the energy level will be turned up.
“It’s just another opportunity to be physical against somebody that’s not on your team,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said. “It’s not live, but the mentality that we have is like what it’ll be on Sundays, so it’s a good opportunity for us to see where we’re at.”
By this point in camp, players often tire of competing against the same teammates day after day.
“It’s kind of the next step of the process,” Daboll said. “I enjoy practicing against other teams.”
The Lions are coached by Dan Campbell, the fiery leader who was a 10-year tight end in the NFL. He spent his first four seasons with the Giants before playing for the Cowboys and Lions.
Last year, when the teams held joint practices at the Lions’ facility, Campbell’s team was the more physical one. It will be interesting to see, even in a practice setting, how the Giants measure up with a team that went 12-5 last season and won two playoff games.
“It’s a good evaluation tool to use to see how they go against some other teams, some different schemes,” Daboll said. “You’re not game-planning or doing anything, so you’ve got to fall back on rules and maybe see something different from the defense, something different from the offense.’’
Left tackle Andrew Thomas said he is looking forward to facing an opponent.
“It’s not a real game, so it’s not that easy to measure,” he said. “But we can see our physicality, technique, things of that nature. I’m excited for it. I remember last year just being out there and competing, and you definitely measure yourself to a team that’s talented like they are. We’re just focused on doing what we can, executing, and like I said, the mentality of being physical, because I think that translates to Sundays.”
Neal still sidelined
Offensive tackle Evan Neal continues to be missing from practices, and Daboll could not say if he will be ready to start the regular season. Neal is coming off ankle surgery in January.
“He’s just rehabbing,” Daboll said. “When he’s ready, he’ll be ready to go out there. But he’s not ready.”
As questions persisted, the coach said: “Everything he can do, he’s doing. And that’s all you can ask for of a guy.”
Neal spent part of practice on a far field Sunday, working with a few other players who are rehabbing.
Schmitz sits again
Center John Michael Schmitz missed his sixth straight practice with a shoulder injury. Asked if anything is “broken,” Daboll said no and that Schmitz is “getting better.” The plan is for Greg Van Roten to continue to get reps at center.
In other injury news, tight end Jack Stoll is in concussion protocol and wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton has a lower leg injury.
Extra points
A scoring drive, one the Giants would like to see often, went like this: Daniel Jones connecting with first-round pick Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, Nabers again, Jalin Hyatt and rookie Tyrone Tracy to finish . . . Receiver Darius Slayton returned to practice . . . Rookie tight end Theo Johnson stretched his 6-6 frame to haul in a pass from Jones.
Kimberly Jones covers the Giants for Newsday, a beat she first worked in the early 2000s before joining the YES Network to cover the Yankees. She worked for the NFL Network for more than a decade and has been heard semi-regularly on WFAN.
