The Giants returned to the practice field on Sunday as they began preparations for their next preseason game against the Houston Texans.
The players practiced in shells before the full pads come back on tomorrow.
The offensive and defensive assistant coaches met with the media before coach Brian Daboll's usual morning press conference. Offensive tackle Evan Neal and cornerback Nick McCloud spoke to the media after the session.
Here are five things we learned Sunday.
1. Neal returns to practice
The big news of the day was offensive tackle Evan Neal's return to practice. Neal was placed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of training camp, forcing him to work with trainers off to the side for the last few weeks. But Daboll announced prior to practice that the third-year tackle passed his physical and would be returning to practice Sunday, albeit in individual drills.
"I just know that with the rehab process he's had a few good days here in a row," Daboll told the media. "Everybody feels good with where he's at. So now it's the ramp up. So it'll start with individuals. And we'll monitor it after we go through individuals. Today will be shells. The next two practices will be pads."
Neal has spent the start of training camp rehabbing his surgically repaired ankle. With the 23-year-old missing the first few weeks of practice, veteran Jermaine Eluemunor has slid over from left guard to right tackle on the starting offensive line.
"We're just getting it back here out in individuals," said Daboll. "So, he's got a long way to go in terms of being off for a while and (he'll) go out there and start competing."
When talking to the media after his first practice back, Neal said he's ready to contribute to the team in any way he's asked.
"Whatever role that the team has for me, I'm going to embrace it. So, whether that's starting or not starting, I'm here to contribute to the team, and I'm going to do everything in my power to do so…" said the third-year tackle. "I'm not owed anything, and I can't feel like I deserve anything. All I want is what I work for."
View photos from the Giants' first practice following their preseason victory over the Lions.
2. Okereke 'one of the best leaders' McCloud has been around
We've heard since the start of the offseason program about the communication across the defense. Perhaps the most significant factor in that is linebacker Bobby Okereke. As the recipient of the green dot, the veteran linebacker serves as the signal-caller for the entire unit. Okereke thrived in his role last season, putting together his best overall campaign in his first year with the Giants. According to his head coach, Okereke's leadership abilities have taken another step heading into Year 2 with the team.
"He's really the centerpiece, the middle linebacker position," Daboll said. "He's a good communicator. Obviously has good leadership traits. Nominated a captain his first year here. I think he's taken that to another level with tying the back end with the front end. He's fast. He's a ball disruptor. Active player in the run game and the pass game. He's been a good player for us. We're going to need him to be a good player this year as well."
The head coach isn't the only one impressed with what Okereke brings to the table.
"He's just one of the best leaders that I've been around," cornerback Nick McCloud said. "He holds himself to a high standard, so it's nothing for him to hold everybody else to a high standard, because he does it himself day in and day out. You can't really ask much more of him."
3. Plan for DJ in matchup vs. Texans
When the Giants took the field for the preseason opener against the Lions, many of the team's starters were relegated to the sideline. This did not come as much of a surprise following two intense joint practices with the Lions earlier in the week. With no joint practices on the schedule leading up to this weekend's game, Daboll and the rest of the coaching staff are working through the possibility of the starters seeing some action this Saturday in Houston.
"We'll talk about that at the end of the week," the head coach said. "Decide what we're going to do and how much we'll play them, but that won't be… We're really going to focus on these next three days. Just us, our team, competition, different situations that we need to make sure we're continuing to improve on. Fundamentals. That's why we'll do pads two days this week. Then we'll make those decisions at the end of the week."
One of the big decisions Daboll will have to make is whether or not Daniel Jones starts under center. While he did state that it depends on how practice goes this week, Daboll told the media that the plan as of now is for Jones to play against the Texans.
"I have an idea right now, but I want to go through these three practices," said Daboll. "We'll talk about it as a coaching staff as the week goes on and end up talking with the players. I do envision Daniel playing if everything is… trainers, practices, all those type of things. The plan is to play him."
4. McCloud ready to show what he can do
Cornerback Nick McCloud is now going into this third season with the Giants. In his first two seasons, the veteran was used in a variety of spots, including time at both outside corner and in the slot. Following the recent injury to Cor'Dale Flott, who had been receiving many of the first-team reps at the outside corner spot opposite Deonte Banks, McCloud appears to be the next man up. Similar to how he always operates, the 26-year-old is ready to take advantage of every opportunity he gets.
"Definitely a huge opportunity," McCloud said about getting first-team reps. "I don't think I'm just trying to take this opportunity to go win a job, every time I step on the practice field, I'm trying to win a job. Whatever reps that I get, those are valuable reps. I went from last year, I didn't get any reps with the ones and the twos, really. Now I'm getting some reps. I just take every opportunity at practice, game, whatever it may be, just try to maximize that."
Defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson told reporters earlier that McCloud plays with a chip on his shoulder. The fourth-year corner clearly does not shy away from that sentiment.
"I wake up every day feeling like I've got to prove myself, no matter where I'm at on the depth chart, no matter what the circumstance may be," said McCloud. "I wake up every day wanting to be in the toughest situations."
5. Injury & roster updates
Daboll updated the injury status of several other players prior to the start of practice. Center John Michael Schmitz returned to practice and participated in individual drills, while tight ends Lawrence Cager and Jack Stoll, along with outside linebacker Tomon Fox, were all back as well.
One player that did not partake in practice was backup quarterback Drew Lock, who was injured during Thursday's preseason opener. Daboll said the team doesn't expect Lock to practice much this week.
"He's sore," Daboll said about Lock. "He'll do some running on the side today. See where he is. See if he can go this week. I don't envision him practicing here the next few days, but like we always do, we'll take it all the way up to the end and see where he's at…
"He feels a little bit better than he did that night and the next morning. He'll do some running on the side, then he won't practice. He won't practice today. I don't think he'll practice tomorrow, probably not the next day, but we'll go all the way to the end."
As mentioned above, Flott did not practice on Sunday. Safety Gervarrius Owens and linebacker Dyontae Johnson also missed practice due to injuries.
The Giants made a roster move Sunday morning as they signed linebacker K.J. Cloyd, who previously spent some time with the Minnesota Vikings. In a corresponding move, defensive back Kaleb Hayes was waived.
View the best photos from training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.