Burning Questions | Previewing Jets-Giants Joint Practice

The Giants will visit the Jets this week with the two teams conducting a joint practice Wednesday at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center before their preseason game Saturday at MetLife Stadium.

To help preview the matchup, Giants.com senior writer/editor Michael Eisen and NYJets.com’s John Pullano chatted about what’s on the horizon.

What is the most intriguing matchup of the Jets-Giants joint practice?

ME: The matchups of skill players who were selected in the first round of the draft: Giants’ wide receiver Malik Nabers vs. Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson vs. cornerback Deonte Banks. Those four players were selected sixth, third, fourth, 10th and 24th (where Aaron Rodgers was selected 18 years earlier) in their respective drafts. That will be a must-watch part of the practice.

JP: For me it is the battles being waged on the edge, specifically LT Andrew Thomas versus Pro Bowl pass rusher Jermaine Johnson. Thomas, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2020 draft, has been steady for the Giants the past two seasons, finishing No. 9 in pass block win rate last season according to Pro Football Focus. Johnson has spent training camp getting a first-class education from future Hall of Fame LT Tyron Smith. Wednesday will be a good opportunity for Johnson to show off what he’s learned.

Who from the other team are you most interested to see in-person?

ME: Aaron Rodgers. The Giants faced Rodgers and the Packers in London in 2022, which seems much longer than two years ago. Obviously, much has happened since then. Rodgers was born in 1983, which was the first year I covered the NFL (ironically, the Packers). I’m seen him play in person nine times and I’m eager to see him up close at age 40.

JP: Brian Burns playing alongside NT Dexter Lawrence and DE Kayvon Thibodeaux. During Burns’ last year in Carolina, the two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher drew a lot of attention from opposing offenses while playing for an underperforming 2-15 team. After being traded to the Giants in the offseason, I am fascinated to see how Burns will be able to operate with Lawrence, a two-time Pro Bowler, and Thibodeaux, 11.5 sacks in 2024, drawing similar amounts of attention. Although, I do believe the Jets revamped O-line – featuring All-Pro LT Tyron Smith and RT Morgan Moses – will be able to handle the pressure.

With the departure of leading rusher Saquon Barkley this offseason, the Giants will look different on offense this season. How do you expect QB Daniel Jones, rookie WR Malik Nabers and the rest of the group to perform against All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams and the Jets’ top-tier defense?

ME: After what he called a “shaky” start Saturday in Houston, Jones rebounded with a strong second quarter in his first game action since Nov. 5. Most notably, Jones and Nabers connected for 4 completions for 54 yards. Their partnership will be critical to the Giants this season, so it will be a good test for them to face the Jets’ defense. The Giants have revamped their offensive line, which will be tested by Williams. But the Jets’ O-line will get the same kind of challenge from Dexter Lawrence.

JP: Entering his sixth season in the NFL, Daniel Jones will be the first starting veteran signal-caller the Jets defense has faced in a joint practice. Jones, coming off a torn ACL, threw for 138 yards and 2 interceptions against the Texans in their second preseason game. He will have his hands full again with the Jets defense that features arguably the best cornerback tandem in the NFL – Gardner and D.J. Reed. However, flanked by two speedy receivers in Nabers, the No. 6 pick in April’s draft, and Jalin Hyatt, the Giants pass game could stretch the field and give the Jets a challenge.

The Giants made several changes on defense this offseason, trading for Pro Bowl DE Brian Burns and hiring Shane Bowen as defensive coordinator. Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson have had a strong camp, what kinds of looks do you expect them to get from the G-Men’s revamped unit?

ME: In Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns, the Giants have two excellent young pass rushers. Bowen is not going to unveil anything exotic or unusual in a joint practice or preseason game, but he does want gauge their progress against players they haven’t yet seen. Deonte Banks is CB1 and will likely be matched up with Wilson. But the Giants have yet to name starters and the other corner and one safety position, so how the contenders for those positions perform will be closely watched by Bowen.

JP: Without having been able to watch much of the Giants this preseason, I will have to base my expectations for the Giants’ defense on Bowen’s track record as an assistant. In Bowen’s three seasons as the Titans DC (2021-23) prior to being hired by the Giants, his units ranked fourth, first and second in fewest rushing yards allowed. Now with Lawrence, Burns and Thibodeaux available to Bowen, I expect that the Jets’ offensive front will need to be on its A-game to run the ball. What we do know is the Rodgers-to-Wilson connection through the air will be lethal, however, I am fascinated to see how RB Breece Hall and the rookie tailbacks, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, fare on the ground.