Players to watch in preseason opener against Lions

The Giants open up the 2024 preseason against the Detroit Lions on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium.

The two teams met for joint practices on Monday and Tuesday, which led to some competitive and spirited sessions. While it remains to be seen which players from both teams will suit up and take the field Thursday, the preseason opener will go a long way in shaping the roster.

The joint practices served as valuable experience for the Giants’ young players, as it provided an opportunity to face off against a new opponent for the first time this summer. Additionally, it allows the Giants’ front office a chance to take a close look at the Lions’ roster, as a good number of the players that took the field in East Rutherford this week will end up being cut.

“It’s good for the competition,” coach Brian Daboll said before the start of joint practices. “It’s also good for the evaluation part of it because not every player is going to make a team and you might see somebody that stands out that maybe doesn’t make it, and you have some history with them. You’re able to evaluate them a little bit more closely than you would just on tape through a couple practices, so absolutely.”

Again, Daboll has yet to announce who will and will not play in the preseason opener. But with all of that said, here are players to watch in the preseason opener.

Thursday’s game will represent the first time that the six-person draft class will put on a Giants jersey. Each member of the 2024 draft class has had some moments during the first two weeks of training camp, and while we may not see all six players take the field Thursday, many of the draft picks should see at least some playing time.

WR Malik Nabers has been one of the stars of training camp, and that continued this week with the Lions in town. Nabers caught nearly every ball thrown his way over the two practice sessions as he continues to shine during his first NFL summer. He is listed as one of the starting wide receivers on the team’s first unofficial depth chart.

“Competitive,” Daboll said Tuesday when asked what he saw from Nabers during Monday’s practice. “Knows what to do. Been playing at a high level in practice, (we’ll) see if that translates to the games. I have a lot of confidence in Malik.”

S Tyler Nubin missed some time early in camp due to a calf injury, but the second-round pick has been back on the practice field for the past week. Nubin is currently slotted as the backup safety on the unofficial depth chart.

CB Dru Phillips found himself in the middle of all of the action against the Lions this week. The rookie cornerback has gotten his hands on the ball a couple of times over the last few days, and is slotted as the starting nickel corner on the unofficial depth chart.

“The last few days he’s shown up, so continue to work and have progress with him,” Daboll said about the rookie corner. “We have different packages with different guys in there, but he’s had a good, call it, the last three days of practice.”

After starting the summer on the physically unable to perform list, TE Theo Johnson was activated a few days into camp and has since shown off his athleticism on a daily basis. Johnson is currently listed as the fourth tight end on the unofficial depth chart.

RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. has had some explosive moments over the first two weeks of camp. The converted wide receiver has shown great hands in the passing game while also displaying great burst as a runner. Tracy is listed as the third running back in addition to the fifth kick and punt returner (along with Ayir Asante).

“Yeah, the three rookies, I’d say on offense, Tracy, Theo, and Nabers, I told you before we put a high premium on intelligent players, knowing what to do, why it’s important,” Daboll told the media last week. “The added benefit of a player that you can’t always evaluate is instincts. If he’s here, it’s not just running lines on paper or adjusting on a run scheme. I’d say those three things, his intelligence, their effort, and then you add the instincts to it for those three young players. That’s unique. Now we’ll see if they can carry it forward.”

Finally, LB Darius Muasau has gotten some reps at both linebacker and on special teams and made plays on both. Muasau is lited as the third inside linebacker.