Training camp was taken to the next level on Monday as the team held its first padded practice of the summer.
The focus of the offense seemed to be in the run game, which limited the number of explosive plays through the air. However, it led to some big plays on the ground, but more on that later.
Coach Brian Daboll spoke to the media before practice, while outside linebacker Brian Burns, offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, and cornerback Paulson Adebo spoke after.
Here is what we learned.
See the best photos from Monday's practice as the pads came on at training camp.
WR Malik Nabers (1)
CB Art Green (35), WR Jordan Bly (12)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
Brian Daboll, Osi Umenyiora
CB Paulson Adebo (21)
DT Darius Alexander (91), OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
Line of scrimmage
QB Jameis Winston (19)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
Brian Daboll
T James Hudson III (55), OLB Abdul Carter (51)
S Jevón Holland (8)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Line of scrimmage
WR Beaux Collins (8)
CB Paulson Adebo (21), WR Juice Wells Jr. (2)
Osi Umenyiora
RB Dante Miller (25)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Rushawn Baker (36)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
Osi Umenyiora
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
DT Darius Alexander (91, OL Marcus Mbow (71)
OL Greg Van Roten (74), DT Jordon Riley
DT Elijah Chatman (94),G Jon Runyan Jr. (76)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Darius Slayton (18)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
Brian Daboll, Osi Umenyiora
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) and OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) and OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) and OLB Brian Burns (0)
QB Russell Wilson (3)
QB Russell Wilson (3), QB Jameis Winston (19) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Russell Wilson (3), QB Jameis Winston (19) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Russell Wilson (3), QB Jameis Winston (19) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jameis Winston (19)
QB Russell Wilson (3), QB Jameis Winston (19) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), WR Dalen Cambre (5), QB Tommy DeVito (15)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
CB Art Green (35)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
CB Art Green (35)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
T Stone Forsythe (70)
DT Cory Durden (69)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
TE Greg Dulcich (89)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29) and CB Deonte Banks (2)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
TE Jermaine Terry II (48)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
WR Zach Pascal (83)
WR Zach Pascal (83)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
DT Roy Robertson-Harris (95)
DT Cory Durden (69)
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
DL Chauncey Golston (57)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
DT Roy Robertson-Harris (95)
DT Roy Robertson-Harris (95)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
DT Roy Robertson-Harris (95)
TE Greg Dulcich (89)
WR Malik Nabers (1)
Head Coach Brian Daboll
TE Theo Johnson (84)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
S Jevón Holland (8)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (87)
S Tyler Nubin (27)
Cam Skattebo has 'got that edge to him'
Anyone that followed college football last year knew how dominant of a player Cam Skattebo was for Arizona State. The young back averaged 5.8 yards per carry while totaling 1,711 yards on the ground along with 21 touchdowns. He also added 45 receptions for another 605 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first running back with 1,500+ rushing yards and 500+ receiving yards in a season since Christian McCaffrey in 2015.
It wasn't just his stats, though. Skattebo showcased his physicality throughout this collegiate career, running defenders over on a consistent basis at both at Sacramento State and ASU. This was one of the numerous attributes that led to the Giants selecting him with the No. 104 pick in this year's draft.
"He was a physical player, first and foremost," Daboll said about the rookie back's performance in college. "When you watch the tape, a hard guy to bring down when he has the ball in his hands. There's all different shapes, sizes of running backs, different speed, different quickness, tall, short. Can they make yards when they get the ball in their hand? However that sorts itself out. Handing it to them, tossing it to them, throwing them a screen, and then how are his hands? Can you use him in the passing game? He's got good hands, he's got soft hands.
"I talked about it with (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter) yesterday – this is another guy that you could evaluate on tape and see these instincts show up. He's not just a line guy. He has good football instincts. I'm looking forward to seeing him in pads today. He's a low level, gets his pads down, runs hard. Looking forward to watching him run today."
After sitting out for most of spring practices, Skattebo has been a full-go since the start of training camp. He's made some impressive plays over the first five practices of camp, including both a big run and a big catch during Monday's session. It hasn't taken long for the rookie back to catch the attention of some of his teammates.
"He showed he got a little dog..." Burns told reporters. "He runs tough, he runs behind his pads. I got to get back and watch the film. I didn't really get a head-to-head with him yet, but from what I hear, alright, we'll see (laughs)...
"I like that he got that edge to him and I feel like he's (going to) be about what he says, so I like that about him."
Eluemunor on Neal's position change: 'He's really bought in'
Monday's practice served as the first real opportunity for offensive lineman Evan Neal to show what he can do at guard. A big offseason storyline was the former first round pick's shift from right tackle to right guard. With the pads finally coming on, today was the first time Neal got to go one-on-one with some of the team's defensive linemen. While it is still early in camp, Neal has impressed one of the veteran's on the O-line with his hard work all offseason.
"He's a big man," Jermaine Eluemunor told the media. "It's funny, getting out the huddle and just going like this, 'Oh yeah,' just looking up (laughs). It's interesting, having a guard bigger than the tackle, but Ev's a humongous human being and those double teams are going to be terrible for defensive tackles. I say that because he's a powerful man, so I'm excited. Him and (guard Greg Van Roten) GV are two great guards. Evan's really committed to being a great guard and you can see it in his determination and just his work ethic. He's really bought in, which is really cool for me to see, especially being the one that plays next to the both of them so I'm excited for his progression."
Eluemunor is no stranger to changing positions. The veteran has taken snaps at both tackle and both guard positions over his first eight seasons, with center being the only spot he has not taken a snap at. In fact, the 30-year-old told reporters that sticking at right tackle this season served as a first for the veteran lineman.
"It's actually the first offseason of my career where I get to play one position," the tackle said. "Last year, I was at left guard and I had to play right tackle. The year before that I was at left tackle, right guard, right tackle, left guard, right guard. I've had to move around every single offseason, so it's been nice to just play one position to truly hone in on my technique, just watch the film, go against (Brian) Burns and Abdul (Carter) and (Kayvon) Thibs and just try different things so when I get out there with the pads on, I know what I'm doing. There's things I've been working on all spring, they show up on tape, which has been really cool for me."
Burns: Abdul will show you what he can do
Throughout the offseason workout program, we saw glimpses of Abdul Carter's athleticism as he constantly got into the quarterback's face. But with no contact allowed during the spring, it was difficult to tell which of Carter's successful pass rush moves would have truly worked had the lineman been able to fully engage with him. With the pads coming on for today's practice, we got to see Carter go to work on the offensive line. It's safe to say his success during the spring was no fluke.
"He does what he got to do, he's about his business," Burns said about his rookie teammate. "All it comes down to is really just making sure that he's clean with the calls and the adjustments because it is moving a little bit faster. It is a little more detailed than college, but as far as raw athleticism, traits, he got it. I really don't got to talk too much on him. Y'all have seen it…
"He's going to be put in positions to succeed, and that's just due to the guys we have on the line, me, Dex, KT, he's going to have one-on-ones, he's going to have opportunities to show what he can do and he showed y'all. Like I said, I don't really want to do too much talking about Abdul because he'll show you. I ain't got to talk about him."
As Burns mentioned, part of the reason Carter should have plenty of opportunities to succeed as a rookie are the guys surrounding him in the pass rush. Burns, Lawrence and Thibodeaux are all proven pass rushers with track records of success. Thibodeaux in particular has made a strong impression on his fellow outside linebacker with his work ethic dating back to last season.
"KT flipped the switch last year," said Burns. "I don't know if y'all peeped it, but he flipped the switch last year, playing a lot harder, playing a lot more physical. He's getting his edge. He had his edge today. KT has impressed me about how he handles himself in the building. He gets in early, he does his thing. All in all, he flipped that switch last year, so I expect big things from KT this year."
Olszewski brought back; Ford-Wheaton placed on IR
The Giants brought back a familiar face on Monday as wide receiver/special teamer Gunner Olszewski was signed to the roster.
In a corresponding move, the Giants placed wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton on injured reserve after the young wideout suffered a torn Achilles during Sunday's practice.
Olszewski played in 10 games for the Giants during the 2023 season before spending all of last year on injured reserve. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 17 of the 2023 campaign after he returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown, which was the second-longest punt return in Giants history.
As for Ford-Wheaton, it is the second serious injury in three seasons for the wide receiver, who tore his ACL during the 2023 preseason before his rookie year. After rehabbing and working his way back from that injury, Ford-Wheaton made the 53-man roster last year and played 286 special teams snaps, the most of any player on offense and third-most on the entire roster.
"My heart aches for that man," Daboll said before practice. "He's done everything he could do to get back. He's a very good special teams player for us and was having a good camp from working back from his injury. He's just laying there on the ground and you just can't help but... That's the tough part of this business – probably one of the worst (parts) is seeing these guys go down that have put so much time and effort and energy into getting back and we'll certainly miss him.
"It's just an unfortunate thing for Bryce, I feel terrible for him, I feel bad for our team because he was a good player for us in the kicking game and now other people are going to have to step up but, man, that was a tough one."
View every move made by the New York Giants during the 2025 cycle.
WR Xavier Gipson - Claimed off Waivers from NYJ (September 11)
ILB Micah McFadden - Reserve/Injured (September 11)
CB Tre Hawkins III - Waived, No Recall from Reserve/Injured (September 9)
T Reid Holskey - Practice Squad (September 8)
G McClendon Curtis - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 8)
DL Elijah Garcia - Activated from Practice Squad/Standard Elevation (Sept. 6)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Free Agent Signing (August 29)
CB Rico Payton - Reserve/Injured (August 29)
LB Zaire Barnes - Practice Squad (August 29)
G McClendon Curtis - Practice Squad (August 29)
OLB Trace Ford - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (August 29)
LB Swayze Bozeman, TE Qadir Ismail, DB Patrick McMorris - Practice Squad (August 28)
S Beau Brade - Claimed off Waivers from BAL (August 27)
CB Rico Payton - Claimed off Waivers from NOR (August 27)
CB Korie Black - Waived, No Recall (August 27)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 27)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Practice Squad Veteran (August 27)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Practice Squad Veteran (August 27)
K Jude McAtamney - International Practice Player Signing (August 27)
OLB Trace Ford, DL Elijah Garcia, OL Bryan Hudson, G Jake Kubas, S Raheem Layne, RB Dante Miller - Practice Squad (August 27)
DL Elijah Chatman, OLB Tomon Fox, DL Jordon Riley, CB Dee Williams - Practice Squad Exception (August 27)
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Reserve/Injured / Designated for Return (August 26)
RB Eric Gray - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (August 26)
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (August 26)
WR Da'Quan Felton, CB Tre Hawkins, TE Jermaine Terry - Waived, Injured (August 26)
T Stone Forsythe, WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey, DL Jeremiah Ledbetter, WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, RB Jonathan Ward - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 26)
WR Dalen Cambre, DL Elijah Chatman, QB Tommy DeVito, TE Greg Dulcich, DL Cory Durden, OLB Trace Ford, OLB Tomon Fox, DL Elijah Garcia, OL Bryan Hudson, G Jake Kubas, S Raheem Layne, K Jude McAtamney, RB Dante Miller, S Makari Paige, DL Jordon Riley, WR Antwane Wells, DB Dee Williams - Waived, No Recall (August 26)
CB TJ Moore - Reserve/Injured (August 24)
S K'Von Wallace - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 24)
WR Zach Pascal - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 22)
WR Jordan Bly, ILB K.J. Cloyd, CB O'Donnell Fortune, ILB Dyontae Johnson, C Jimmy Morrissey, WR Montrell Washington, OL Jaison Williams - Waived, No Recall (August 22)
T Andrew Thomas - Passed Physical (August 19)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Free Agent Signing (August 4)
RB Jonathan Ward - Free Agent Signing (August 4)
LB Ty Summers - Reserve/Injured (August 4)
RB Rushawn Baker - Waived, Injured (August 4)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton - Reserve/Injured (July 28)
S K'Von Wallace - Free Agent Signing (July 22)
DB Anthony Johnson - Waived, Injured (July 22)
T Andrew Thomas - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 22)
RB Eric Gray - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 22)
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 22)
Giants receive 2026 sixth-round draft pick from Dolphins in exchange for conditional 2027 seventh-round selection and TE Darren Waller (July 7)
RB Cam Skattebo - Selection List Signing (June 18)
DL Darius Alexander - Selection List Signing (June 2)
QB Jaxson Dart - Selection List Signing (May 30)
OLB Abdul Carter - Selection List Signing (May 22)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Free Agent Signing (May 12)
CB T.J. Moore - Free Agent Signing (May 12)
DB R.J. Delancy III - Waived, No Recall (May 12)
DB Tommy McCormick - Waived, No Recall (May 12)
OL Marcus Mbow - Selection List Signing (May 9)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Selection List Signing (May 9)
CB Korie Black - Selection List Signing (May 9)
RB Rushawn Baker, WR Jordan Bly, WR Dalen Cambre, WR Beaux Collins, DB R.J. Delancey, WR Da'Quan Felton, OLB Trace Ford, DB O'Donnell Fortune, DB Tommy McCormick, DB Makari Paige, TE Jermaine Terry, WR Antwane Wells, OL Jaison Williams - Free Agent Signing (May 9)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (May 9)
DL Casey Rogers - Waived, No Recall (May 8)
CB Korie Black - Selected in the 7th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 246 overall) (April 26)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Selected in the 7th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 219 overall) (April 26)
OL Marcus Mbow - Selected in the 5th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 154 overall) (April 26)
RB Cam Skattebo - Selected in the 4th Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 105 overall) (April 26)
DL Darius Alexander - Selected in the 3rd Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 65 overall) (April 25)
QB Jaxson Dart - Selected in the 1st Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 25 overall) (April 24)
LB Abdul Carter - Selected in the 1st Round of 2025 NFL Draft (No. 3 overall) (April 24)
DT Ross Blacklock - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (April 15)
QB Jameis Winston - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 31)
LB Ty Summers - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 31)
QB Russell Wilson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 26)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Exclusive Rights Signing (March 26)
WR Zach Pascal - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 25)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 25)
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 21)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 21)
OL Greg Van Roten - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 19)
DL Jeremiah Ledbetter - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
CB Paulson Adebo - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
S Jevón Holland - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
WR Darius Slayton - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
DL Chauncey Golston - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL James Hudson III - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
LB Chris Board - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL Stone Forsythe - Free Agent Signing (March 13)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Re-signed (March 12)
DT Roy Robertson-Harris - Free Agent Signing (March 10)
P Jamie Gillan - Re-signed (March 8)
TE Chris Manhertz - Re-signed (March 8)
QB Tommy DeVito - Re-signed (March 8)
OLB Tomon Fox - Re-signed (March 7)
LS Casey Kreiter - Re-signed (March 5)
WR Montrell Washington - Free Agent Signing (February 14)
CB Nic Jones - Free Agent Signing (February 14)
DT Ross Blacklock - Reserve/Future (January 6)
C Bryan Hudson - Reserve/Future (January 6)
K Jude McAtamney - Reserve/Future (January 6)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future (January 6)
DT Casey Rogers - Reserve/Future (January 6)
