The New York Giants will conclude both training camp and the preseason this week with a Thursday night game against the New England Patriots before turning their full attention to the regular season.
For those on the fringe, there are still jobs to be won or lost, but with the clock winding down, a much clearer picture of the 2019 Giants has come into focus.
Let’s take a quick look back at the 10 things we learned in Week 5 of training camp:
Eli Manning is the starting quarterback
Giants head coach Pat Shurmur has repeated himself like a broken record for well over a month now, telling everyone would listen that Eli Manning would be the starting quarterback come Week 1.
The media continued to press him, insisting that he must be lying and that there’s some sort of internal power struggle — that co-owner John Mara is forcing Eli on him.
False.
Not only did Manning take every single first-team rep in training camp, he’s been ruled out for Thursday’s preseason finale against the New England Patriots because Shurmur feels the need to keep his starter safe.
Shurmur also got testy with the beat last week over their relentless quarterback questioning.
“I just said Eli’s the starter. Didn’t I just say that? Excuse the fact that I had to repeat it, but I felt like I just said that,” Shurmur said on Friday after answering the same exact question two times in a row.
Don’t expect that question to cease, however. We’d be willing to guarantee he gets asked again on Monday.
Daniel Jones is tough as nails
Eli Manning has established himself as one of the toughest players to ever step onto the football field, so needless to say, those are big shoes to fill for rookie Daniel Jones.
The good news? Jones showed us that he’s capable of stepping into that very same role by absorbing a monstrous hit via Carl Lawson of the Cincinnati Bengals.
After popping back up from that huge hit, Jones connected with wide receiver Darius Slayton deep down the field on the very next play, proving that he couldn’t be rattled.
Still, Jones admitted after the fact it was the hardest he had ever been hit.
“That’s part of the game. It’s part of football. I could have just stepped up in the pocket, and that’s something I’ll take from this week is moving up in the pocket,” Jones said. “It’s probably the hardest I’ve been hit. I’m not sure I really felt after that like I was more comfortable necessarily. The way I see it, it’s just part of the game.”
Tough as nails.
Sam Beal is adamant he won’t be going on IR
After suffering a shoulder injury a season ago, cornerback Sam Beal missed his entire rookie campaign. And while he was able to learn the defense, he’s only briefly been able to put that to work on the field.
Beal has been sidelined for much of the summer due to lingering injuries, including a hamstring issue. And while he returned to individual drills on Sunday, he’s still not ready to practice in full.
Despite all of that, Beal is adamant he won’t waste another season on injured reserve.
“I’m not going back on IR,” Beal said, via NJ Advance Media. “I’ll be good before I go back there.”
Of course, even to go on IR, Beal would have to make the 53-man roster first and that seems up in the air.
DeMarcus Lawrence is already jawing
Dallas Cowboys edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence has long had it in for the Giants and quarterback Eli Manning despite having recorded just 3.5 sacks against them during the under-performing offensive line tenure, and that continued this week.
Yet again unprompted, Lawrence expressed delight over getting to play Manning twice in 2019.
“That’s also a blessing to my career, to be able to go against Eli twice a year, so I’m ready for it,” Lawrence said, via Pro Football Talk.
Real talent doesn’t have to convince itself that it’s talent. We’ll see how Lawrence fares this season.
Da’Mari Scott wanted out of New York
The Giants have operated this past week with just 89 men on their 90-man roster, and that’s because of the unexpected release of wide receiver Da’Mari Scott.
While the move initially seemed curious, it was later revealed that Scott wanted out of New York and had requested his release.
Scott has yet to find an opportunity elsewhere and remains an unsigned free agent.
Baker Mayfield stirred the pot, walked it back
In an interview with GQ Magazine, Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield took an unprovoked shot at the Giants and rookie quarterback Daniel Jones.
“I cannot believe the Giants took Daniel Jones. It blows my mind,” Mayfield said. “Some people overthink it. That’s where people go wrong. They forget you’ve gotta win.”
After the firestorm was created and Jones brushed off the comments, Mayfield attempted quick damage control by blaming the media for quoting him.
“This is not what I said, just so we’re clear,” Mayfield said in an Instagram story. “I also said I was surprised I got drafted number one. Then was talking about the flaws in evaluating QBs, where I brought up winning being important. Reporters and media will do anything to come up with a click bait story.
“Heard nothing but good things and wish nothing but the best for Daniel.”
Mayfield even reached out to Jones via text and the entire incident was squashed. For now.
Eli Manning still hilarious
Manning stayed relatively quiet throughout the Baker Mayfield-Daniel Jones incident, but after cooler heads had prevailed, Manning injected some of his now infamous sarcasm.
“I thought he did great,” Manning said, via CBS Sports. “I told him what to say. He didn’t listen to me, though. He took the high road.”
If you’re at all familiar with Eli Manning, that comment will bust your sides.
Odell Beckham Jr. is delusional
What’s a week in Giants land without Odell Beckham Jr. chiming in?
Shortly after Baker Mayfield took aim at Daniel Jones, Beckham felt the need to one-up him by claiming the Giants deliberately tried to destroy his career.
Yes, you read that right. Beckham now thinks the Giants made a personal decision to destroy him.
“This wasn’t no business move,” Beckham said, via MMQB. “This was personal. They thought they’d send me here to die.”
Beckham went on to add that the Giants tried to control him and that he’s not, nor has he never been friends with Eli Manning.
Very mature.
Evan Engram has improved his blocking game
Tight end Evan Engram is expected to be a key player for the Giants on offense in 2019, but they still needed him to round his blocking game into shape.
Mission accomplished?
“It’s crazy how much better I have gotten at the blocking game,” Engram said, via Giants.com. “Credit to (tight ends) coach (Lunda) Wells and my teammates. I was talking with one of my family members about how my blocking game has evolved playing with Rhett (Ellison). Watching him each and every day, and working alongside him, it’s added a lot to my plate in the blocking game.
“With the steps, it’s the small details. I’ve always kind of had the punch, I’ve always had the heart to get in there and fight, but it’s been a lot of details. I really feel like I’ve taken my game to another level in that aspect, just through the coaching and playing with the guys.”
Engram has taken only a few reps this preseason, so we’ve not yet been able to witness the improved blocking, but he has looked solid in practice.
Alec Ogletree expects to be back for Week 1
Linebacker Alec Ogletree suffered a calf strain in a Week 1 preseason game against the New York Jets and had been sidelined right up until Sunday when the veteran took part in individual drills.
Not expected to play in the preseason finale on Thursday night, Ogletree seems questionable for Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, but vows to be on the field nonetheless.
Ogletree has lost 10 pounds this offseason in an effort to play faster this year.
