OFFENSE

DEFENSE

SPECIALISTS

The New York Giants have released their first depth chart ahead of Thursday's preseason opener against the Jets. As always, it is subject to change. It simply serves as a guide, more so for the media than the coaches.

Nevertheless, here are some notes on the first one:

*To no surprise, rookie Daniel Jones is listed as the No. 2 quarterback behind Eli Manning. The sixth overall draft choice has been working with the second team throughout training camp, followed by Alex Tanney and Kyle Lauletta. Coach Pat Shurmur was asked last week if the team will keep two or three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, which must be finalized by 4 p.m. on Aug. 31. "We're going to do what's best for the roster," Shurmur said. "We'll see how that goes."

Shurmur added: "I've been in places where there were two and a practice squad guy. I've been in places where we've had three and a practice squad guy. I've been in places where there have been a lot of different situations."

*Jon Halapio is in line to retain the starting center job that he had a year ago before suffering a season-ending leg injury in Week 2. Spencer Pulley, who eventually took over for him and helped to get the offense on track in the second half of the season, is listed behind Halapio. However, the team has reiterated its confidence in both of them.

"I think [Halapio has] done a good job to get maybe the first look," Shurmur said. "But I feel just as comfortable playing Spencer as I do Pio. I think they're two very good players. Spencer played at the end of the year and did a really nice job. I think in our scenario, we're fortunate that we have two guys that can snap the ball."

*Wide receiver was already a competition to watch heading into training camp, and then Sterling Shepard (thumb), Darius Slayton (hamstring) and Corey Coleman (torn ACL) all went down with injuries. Golden Tate faces a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing drugs. Tate, who said he took a fertility drug that included a substance banned by the league, is appealing. He is scheduled to be in New York City on Tuesday as the team awaits the decision. Cody Latimer, Bennie Fowler and Russell Shepard are listed with the second team. Slayton, praised by Shurmur as the most improved player of spring practices, is with the third team as he works his way back to the field.

*Coleman will be missed as a receiver, but he proved to be a valuable kickoff returned last season. In his place, Latimer is the first man up, followed by fellow wide receiver TJ Jones and rookie cornerback Corey Ballentine.

Ballentine, who averaged 24.8 yards per kickoff return during his career at Washburn, was also a college track star, recording the nine fastest times in the 60m in school history and the six fastest times in the indoor 200m. He also holds the school record in the outdoor 100m (10.51), outdoor 200m (21.25) and has eight of the 10 fastest times in the 100m and the top six times in the outdoor 200m in school history.

Meanwhile, do-it-all safety Jabrill Peppers leads the way on punt returns. In his two seasons with the Browns, Peppers returned 55 punts for 399 yards (7.3), including three of at least 20 yards and a long of 33 yards.

*The Giants have two rookies penciled in as starters: defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence and cornerback DeAndre Baker. Along with Jones, they were three first-round picks made by the team.

*Tae Davis is listed next to Alec Ogletree as the two inside linebackers in the 3-4 base defense. B.J. Goodson is second behind Ogletree, and rookie fifth-round pick Ryan Connelly is behind Davis. Ogletree also swapped jersey numbers with Jake Carlock. After spending his first six NFL seasons in No. 52, he will now wear No. 47.

"I changed my number because I felt like I had done all I could do in the number 52," Ogletree said. "In biblical terms, the number seven means 'I'm a completion.' Number four – I read it means your mind, your body, and your spirit are in line with the structural world again, and for me, in organized sports. It (also) means stability of home. The number 47 reminded me of where I come from, what I've been through, and where I'm headed. Those are a few of the reasons why I changed it. It's a fresh start for me. I wore 52 because one of my favorite players wore it and I didn't really have a meaning behind it. This gives me a little bit of meaning, which is the reason why I changed it."

*In the secondary, Grant Haley and Antonio Hamilton are listed as second-team cornerbacks behind Janoris Jenkins and Baker. Sam Beal, who missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, has been limited by a groin/hamstring issue this summer and is with the third team. Ballentine, who has turned some heads with three interceptions already in camp, is also with the threes.

*Kareem Martin and Lorenzo Carter are the first-team outside linebackers, while Markus Golden and rookie Oshane Ximines are with the second unit. Expect a healthy rotation out of them.