Giants CB Deonte Banks to start vs. Steelers despite appearing to quit on play last week
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown is tackled by New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks ( during the third quarter on Oct. 20, 2024. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II
For the better part of five days, those in positions of power and accountability with the Giants have publicly expressed their disappointment with Deonte Banks’ effort on Jalen Hurts’ 16-yard scramble in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Eagles.
It appears, however, their dissatisfaction with the second-year cornerback’s actions in the 28-3 loss will not prevent them from having him start against the Steelers on Monday night.
Brian Daboll announced Friday that Banks would start in Pittsburgh. This came a few minutes after defensive coordinator Shane Bowen declined to answer the very same question definitively three times.
“He’ll start,” Daboll said. “We’ve talked to [Deonte]. We talk to all our players and we’ll keep that in-house.”
On the first play of the fourth quarter last Sunday, the Giants had the Eagles in a third-and-seven at the Giants' 34-yard line. At the snap, the pocket collapsed and Hurts scrambled to the right side. As the Eagles’ quarterback ran toward the sideline, Banks slowed up and Hurts carried the ball for five additional yards to give the Eagles a first-and-10 on the Giants’ 18-yard line. The drive ended with Hurts’ second rushing touchdown of the game.
When asked if the incident was concerning, Bowen essentially said that playing hard is non-negotiable.
“We expect these guys every snap to play full speed to the tackle,” Bowen said. “Making sure they're running to the ball and doing all those things, that's the expectation. That's the standard we want to have here across the board. Something we [have] to continue to coach. We've addressed it as a coaching staff and with the unit and everybody else. Hopefully, moving forward, we can continue to see some progress and some growth in that regard from all our guys, too.”
Shortly thereafter, Bowen was twice asked if Banks would start and the defensive coordinator said, “He’ll be playing.” When Newsday followed up by asking him directly if the coaching staff had decided whether Banks would start or come off the bench, Bowen said, “We'll see where we're at here later in the week as we get closer to it.”
It was not the first time this season Banks has stopped on a play. He slowed to a jog on CeeDee Lamb’s 55-yard touchdown catch-and-run in the second quarter of the Giants’ 20-15 loss to the Cowboys on Sept. 26.
The Maryland product disagreed with the notion that there is a similarity between the two plays.
“The Cowboys play was different,” Banks said. “Both of them were bad plays but it was two different plays.”
How so?
“I misjudged it,” Banks said. “I thought [Hurts] was closer to [the sidelines]. I misjudged it. It was a bad play by me.”
Banks did acknowledge he needed “to have a better effort,” and “it won’t happen again,” but wasn’t worried that he could have been benched.
“It was a bad play,” Banks said. “One bad play.”
Notes & quotes: LB Brian Burns (groin and Achilles), OL Jermaine Eluemunor (hip), P Jamie Gillan (left hamstring), DB Adoree' Jackson (neck) and LB Ty Summers (ankle) did not practice. DB Cor’Dale Flott (groin), DB Tre Hawkins (ankle), and DL Dexter Lawrence (hip) were limited.
