AT A GLANCE

The roads were always leading to Week 1. The Giants, whose productive summer included stops in West Virginia and Miami, returned to MetLife Stadium on Friday night for a 23-6 victory over the Jets in the preseason finale.

Undrafted rookie Dominic Zvada made three field goals, including a long of 53 yards, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Xavier Gipson added touchdowns as the defense shut out the Jets after they scored on the opening drive of the game.

The Giants finished 2-1 in their first preseason under John Harbaugh.

"Good game, good win, good to see the guys win," Harbaugh said. "Good to see them finish. Good to see them keep playing right on through to the end, extending the lead in the second half just as a team. That's what you want to do. I thought there's a lot of really good individual performances, a lot of guys that have an opportunity to make the team played really well, did a nice job, and made a case for themselves. So, with that, that'll kind of conclude – will conclude – the training camp/preseason aspect of what we're doing, and all eyes will go to the season opener. And then that'll be our beginning going forward from here on out."

UP NEXT

Prior to 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30, NFL clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players from the offseason limit of 90. As always, the roster is subject to change – and often does – before Week 1.

The claiming period for players placed on waivers at the roster reduction will expire at 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 31. The Giants are fifth in the claiming order. Teams can then establish a practice squad of 17 players, as long as one player qualifies and is designated as an international player.

The Giants open the regular season at home on Sept. 13 in a Sunday night game against the Dallas Cowboys.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE

Starters:

• QB Jameis Winston
• LT J.C. Davis
• LG Jon Runyan
• C John Michael Schmitz
• RG Francis Mauigoa
• RT Marcus Mbow
• FB Grant Finley
• RB Tyrone Tracy Jr.
• TE Thomas Fidone II
• WR Xavier Gipson
• WR Darius Slayton

Jameis Winston started his second consecutive game at quarterback in place of Jaxson Dart, who got the night off along with a handful of other starters. Winston completed four of nine passes for 64 yards and an interception, which occurred on the opening drive when the ball went off the hands of Odell Beckham Jr. after the wide receiver slipped.

The Giants turned the ball over on their first two possessions. The second occurred in the red zone. Jets linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball punched the ball out of the hands of wide receiver Braxton Berrios, and cornerback Qwan'tez Stiggers recovered in the end zone for a touchback.

As he looked to keep his comeback story going, Beckham racked up 53 yards on three catches (17.7 yards per reception) and six targets.

The Giants rested tackles Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor but wanted to get the three starting interior linemen more work together. The group included rookie right guard Sisi Mauigoa, the 10^th overall pick who played against his brother, Jets linebacker Kiko Mauigoa.

Rookie J.C. Davis started again at left tackle. The sixth-round pick played all 81 offensive snaps at that spot last week in Miami.

Najee Harris made his Giants preseason debut 10 days after signing with the team. The former Pro Bowl running back, who opened his career with four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaigns with the Steelers before suffering a torn Achilles with the Chargers early last season, ran 11 times for 39 yards. He also had a 20-yard catch-and-run.

Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. was cleared after being evaluated for a concussion with 7:22 left in the second quarter. Prior to that, he had four carries for 37 yards and a touchdown.

Wide receiver Xavier Gipson put the game out of reach with a 37-yard touchdown from Jake Haener, the third quarterback to enter the game behind Winston and Brandon Allen. It gave the Giants a 17-point lead with 10:30 left in the game.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE

Starters:

• OLB Caleb Murphy
• DL Bobby Jamison-Travis
• DL Darius Alexander
• DL Chauncey Golston
• LB Micah McFadden
• LB Jack Kelly
• CB Deonte Banks
• CB Paulson Adebo
• S Tyler Nubin
• S Ar'Darius Washington
• S Jason Pinnock

With Cade Klubnik starting at quarterback, the Jets opened with a 10-play touchdown drive that did not include a pass attempt. Chip Trayanum had nine of those carries, including a one-yard score.

Linebacker Zaire Barnes was one of three gameday captains for the Giants. The former sixth-round pick by the Jets came down with an interception in the second quarter.

Outside linebacker Trace Ford also made a strong closing argument for a roster spot with five tackles (four solo), three tackles for loss, two passes defensed, a sack and two quarterback hits.

Linebacker Jack Kelly, a sixth-round pick from BYU, racked up four tackles and broke up a pass while making a start.

Outside linebacker Khalid Kareem had 1.5 sacks. He split the second with rookie defensive lineman Bobby Jamison-Travis in the fourth quarter.

Jordan Stout showcased his All-Pro leg in a two-play sequence in the second quarter. After a 66-yard punt was called back because gunner Art Green ran out of bounds, Stout stepped up to the plate again and booted an 81-yarder to the goal line. However, linebacker Darius Muasau was unable to stop it before it reached the end zone for a touchback. Stout finished the night averaging 69.5 yards on two punts.

The suspense is over for at least one roster spot. Dominic Zvada will be the Giants' kicker heading into the 2026 season.

Sixteen days before they kick off against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, coach John Harbaugh made the declaration in his postgame press conference. In the game, the undrafted rookie made his closing argument by hitting all three field goal attempts from 53, 46 and 23 yards, in addition to two extra points and handling kickoff duties.

"I thought he did great," Harbaugh said of the former All-American and Big Ten Kicker of the Year from the University of Michigan. "He'll win the job. He'll be the kicker. That was kind of the last step, give him a chance to prove he could do a whole game."

The roster deadline brought the competition between Zvada and Ben Sauls, a returnee from the Giants' 2025 roster, to a head.

It ended what was originally a three-legged race with former All-Pro Jason Sanders also in the mix, but he was released in early June.

That put Zvada and Sauls under the microscope throughout spring practices, training camp and ultimately the preseason.

Both players performed admirably as they finished the preseason perfect on field goals and extra points.

Zvada made field goals from 53, 46, 43, 32 and 23 yards, and four extra points.

Sauls made from 46, 27 and 37 yards, and one extra point.

"I would say Ben also won a job," Harbaugh said. "He should be kicking in the National Football League based on the fact that if we didn't have Dominic, then Ben would have been the guy. So, I thought he had a great camp as well."

INJURY REPORT

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (evaluated for concussion/cleared)

GAMEDAY CAPTAINS

Preseason Week 3 at NYJ: LG Jon Runyan, S Tyler Nubin, LB Zaire Barnes

Preseason Week 2 at MIA: QB Jameis Winston, LB Micah McFadden, CB Greg Newsome II

Preseason Week 1 vs. MIN: QB Jaxson Dart, P Jordan Stout, OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux