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Instant Analysis: Takeaways from Giants vs. Jets

FINAL-SCORE

AT A GLANCE

The New York Giants wrapped up their three-game preseason slate with a 32-24 loss to the Jets. The inter-conference foes will meet again in Week 8. The Giants will once again be the "home" team.

UP NEXT

Tuesday, Aug. 29, is the NFL deadline for clubs to reduce their rosters from 90 to 53 players. After that, the Giants will have a player vote to determine team captains, and then it's all systems go for the Sept. 10 opener against the Cowboys on "Sunday Night Football" at MetLife Stadium.

View photos from the preseason finale between the Giants and Jets at MetLife Stadium.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE

🏈 From left to right, the starting offensive line was Matt Peart, Joshua Ezeudu, Ben Bredeson, Mark Glowinski, and Korey Cunningham. Backup Tyrod Taylor started at quarterback while the Giants rested the majority of their first-team players.

🏈 While the Jets got reps for their starters, Taylor played two series and was relieved by undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito, who gave up a 67-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Brandin Echols. DeVito finished the night completing 19 of 29 passes for 210 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown to wide receiver David Sills V late in the game. DeVito also added 33 yards on six rushes.

🏈 Running back Jashaun Corbin, who spent last season on the practice squad as an undrafted free agent from Florida State, barreled in for a one-yard touchdown for the Giants' first score midway through the second quarter.

🏈 A free agent addition shortly before the start of training camp, James Robinson turned in the long play of the game with a 28-yard run. He finished with 55 yards on 10 carries.

🏈 David Sills V led the team with six catches for 81 yards and the touchdown.

🏈 Speedy wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton showed what he could do with the ball in his hands and had two rushing attempts for 17 yards.

🏈 Tight end Tommy Sweeney, who missed last week's game and hadn't practiced this week, was on a side field with teammates rehabilitating injuries on Wednesday when he had a medical event during practice. The Giants released a statement saying, "He is under the care of medical professionals in the Giants' athletic training room. He is stable, alert and conversant." A day later, coach Brian Daboll said Sweeney is doing well but still going through evaluations.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE

🏈 The positionless defense added a positionless player. Two weeks before the 2023 NFL season kicks off, the Giants acquired versatile safety Isaiah Simmons from the Cardinals in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round draft choice.

They waisted no time in getting him on the field, starting the eighth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft just one day after he arrived in East Rutherford. Simmons had an impact play in his Giants debut and pressured four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who was playing in his first game as a Jet, on third-and-long to force a punt.

Simmons has never missed a game in his career, appearing 50 times in the regular season with 37 starts. In three NFL seasons, he has recorded 181 tackles, 7.5 sacks, four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 16 passes defensed, 11 quarterback hits, 13 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Last season, Simmons posted career-highs in sacks (4.0), interceptions (two), tackles for loss (five), and passes defensed (tied with seven).

His real value, though, is his versatility.

"That's one of the reasons why we made the trade," Daboll said. "We thought there's some upside there. Again, we'll put him in, we'll ask him to do probably quite a bit of things just to see what he takes to. A guy that's, again, athletic, explosive, has good size. I've seen him do some multiple things. Until we get him here, I'll give you a better answer, but certainly happy to have him."

That goes double for defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who recently talked about not wanting to put players "in a box" with labels.

"We like to put pressure on the quarterback in different ways because, like I have said many times, pressure breaks pipes," Martindale said. "It's one of those things where I say it's a positionless defense, so I just don't limit them and put them in a box. … It's what they do best, how can we get a free runner to the quarterback, and what it takes is 11 selfless guys out there and that's what you are seeing with us, with our guys. They are selfless players."

🏈 Linebacker Carter Coughlin flashed on Saturday night with two tackles for loss.

🏈 Claimed less than two weeks ago off waivers from Denver, linebacker Ray Wilborn had the lone sack of the night for the Giants.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

🏈 Graham Gano made a 57-yard field goal late in the first half, which is nothing new for the franchise leader in 50-yarders. So, he upped the ante and drilled the ensuing kickoff through the uprights. He wasn't done there. The veteran was in midseason form and remained perfect from 56 and 40 yards.

🏈 Sterling Shepard fielded a punt for the first time since his final collegiate season at Oklahoma in 2015. Fellow veteran wide receiver Jamison Crowder also returned one for six yards on Saturday night.

GAMEDAY CAPTAINS

WR Sterling Shepard, OLB Jihad Ward

IN-GAME INJURY REPORT

NYG: S Bobby McCain (evaluated for a concussion), CB Zyon Gilbert (hamstring), WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (knee), TE Chris Myarick (hand), OL Wyatt Davis (ankle), CB Gemon Green (shoulder), S Gervarrius Owens (hamstring)

NYJ: DL Tanzel Smart (shoulder)

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