5 players to watch in Giants vs. Texans

Since arriving in East Rutherford, Daboll has preached positional versatility up and down the roster. One player that exemplifies this is cornerback Nick McCloud. The fourth-year corner has lined up all over the Giants defense the last two seasons, including time at outside cornerback and in the slot. Cor’Dale Flott, who was listed as the starting outside corner opposite Deonte Banks on the team’s first two unofficial depth charts, has been out of practice this week with an injury, paving the way for McCloud to see more time on the outside. Now potentially looking at extended action at outside corner, McCloud is ready to take advantage of this chance to show the coaching staff what he can do.

“Definitely a huge opportunity,” McCloud told reporters Sunday. “I don’t think I’m just trying to take this opportunity to go win a job, every time I step on the practice field, I’m trying to win a job. Whatever reps that I get, those are valuable reps. I went from last year, I didn’t get any reps with the ones and the twos, really. Now I’m getting some reps. I just take every opportunity at practice, game, whatever it may be, just try to maximize that.”

McCloud originally joined the Giants prior to the start of the 2022 season after he was waived by the Cincinnati Bengals. The fourth-year corner played well in 2023, picking up the first three forced fumbles of his career along with his first career interception. McCloud’s background includes being a three-star recruit out of high school, playing five years at Notre Dame and then going undrafted in 2022. Suffice it to say, the 26-year-old does not lack motivation.

“It’s not really hard for me to wake up with a chip on my shoulder,” said McCloud. “But I feel like I’m moving past that point of just trying to prove people wrong. Now I’m to the point to where the people who are in my corner, I’m just going to try to prove them right. So that’s just how I feel about that. … I wake up every day feeling like I’ve got to prove myself, no matter where I’m at on the depth chart, no matter what the circumstance may be. I wake up every day wanting to be in the toughest situations.”

After missing some time at the start of training camp, safety Tyler Nubin has shown over the last couple of weeks why the Giants selected him in the second round of this year’s draft. The No. 47 overall pick has put his high football intelligence on full display since his first day on the practice field. It didn’t take long for the rookie safety to impress his position coach.

“He’s really competitive, really confident,” passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson said earlier this week. “You just watch the [college] tape — and even here — his intensity, his energy and his focus just jumps off the tape at you.”

“It was good to see him last week versus Detroit as well,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen added on Thursday. “He continues to get better. He continues to improve each day. I think the one thing with him is he’s finally out there. He’s healthy. We missed him those first two weeks. And he’s had ground to make up to get back in that competition. He’s been good. He’s taking advantage of the opportunities. Doesn’t make the same mistake twice. I’ve been encouraged by where he’s at right now.”

Nubin was on the field for 18 total plays against the Lions in the preseason opener. It was a solid showing for his first outing in the NFL, but there was one play in particular that stood out. With the Lions facing a third-and-two, Nubin blew up offensive lineman Michael Niese, planting the 295-pound lineman into the ground as Dyontae Johnson flew in to tackle the runner short of the line of gain. This was just one example of the physicality Nubin intends to bring to the Giants defense this season.

“I think something a lot of people don’t know about me is I’m always ready to stick my nose in there and get dirty with the big guys,” Nubin said. “That’s something I’ve never been afraid of. That’s something that was preached at Minnesota. That’s where I start my game — getting physical, and then I’m feeling good so now I can go look for the ball.”