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Xavier McKinney highlights Day 2 defensive response

XAVIER-MCKINNEY-TICKETMASTER

The offense won Day 1 of training camp, and Saquon Barkley let Xavier McKinney hear about it.

"We just get a little competitive," the safety said about his back-and-forth with the running back. "He said they won the day. It's just one day, it's the first day of training camp, so I wouldn't get too excited (laughs)."

That was Wednesday. On Thursday, it was split evenly.

Here are the highlights from a back-and-forth practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center:

View photos from Thursday's training camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

TOUCHDOWNS

🔹 The competition began with 1-on-1 drills, where Daniel Jones hit tight end Darren Waller and wide receivers Collin Johnson (twice) and Parris Campbell for touchdowns.

🔹 Then it was Tyrod Taylor's turn, and the backup quarterback found wide receivers Kalil Pimpleton (twice), Jaydon Mickens, and Jeff Smith in the end zone.

TAKEAWAYS

🔹 McKinney got his revenge and scooped a pass just before it hit the turf, taking it the other direction up the sideline. Coach Brian Daboll waved him on.

🔹 Zyon Gilbert, however, made the play of the day. On an island, the cornerback tipped a pass to himself and secured an interception with one had as he fell backward. Gilbert spent time on and off the practice squad and active roster as an undrafted rookie from Florida Atlantic last season, appearing in three games with one start.

🔹 Rookie cornerback Tre Hawkins III, a sixth-round pick out of Old Dominion, intercepted a pass in the back of the end zone during 1-on-1 drills.

🔹 Fellow cornerback Amani Oruwariye secured the fourth interception for the defense near the end of practice.

TOP PLAYS

🔹 Cornerback Nick McCloud, who played the sixth-most snaps among Giants defensive backs and started eight games in 2022, had great coverage during a 1-on-1 drill in which he prevented the quarterback from even attempting a pass.

🔹 Cornerback Darnay Holmes wrapped up the 1-on-1 period by forcing a throwaway.

🔹 After the Giants spent the first day exclusively in the red zone, Daboll moved them farther back on Thursday, leading to some big gains from the promising connection of Jones to tight end Darren Waller. Johnson was also a frequent target during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 periods in addition to 1-on-1 work.

🔹 Cornerback Adoree' Jackson broke up a pass during team drills.

🔹 Jones threaded the needle to tight end Daniel Bellinger on a nice completion. Taylor also threw a perfect ball to Lawrence Cager, another tight end, dropping it perfectly between the second and third levels of the defense.

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