Week 2 at New York Giants training camp is in the books and once again we’re here to enlighten you on which players’ stock is up and whose is down.
Here’s our winners and loser of the week:
Winner: Daniel Jones
Quarterback Daniel Jones could do only one thing to quell the tide of doubt that has shrouded him since the Giants made him the sixth overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft and that was go out and prove himself. He’s doing that by displaying his arm strength, mobility, intelligence, leadership and maturity. He’s going to be just fine.
Loser: Mark McLaurin
The Giants had high hopes for defensive back Mark McLaurin this summer, but the UDFA out of Mississippi State was placed on injured reserve this week after fracturing his foot in practice. McLaurin was being used at several positions, including linebacker, where he was in the running for defensive coordinator James Bettcher’s ‘moneybacker’ role. He’s likely gone for the season.
Winner: Sterling Shepard
Wide receiver Sterling Shepard was a big winner. After having the world write him off after fracturing his thumb at the beginning of camp, Shepard ended the week playing close to 100%, catching passes with both hands. Barring a setback, he should be ready for the season opener in Dallas on September 8.
Loser: Sam Beal
Second-year cornerback Sam Beal can’t catch a break. Last year after the Giants selected Beal in the third-round of the NFL Supplemental Draft, he injured his shoulder early in in camp and missed his entire rookie season. This year, he is supposed to battle for a starting role but has been hobbled by a groin/hamstring issue that has him helplessly watching three rookies (Corey Ballentine, Deandre Baker and Julian Love) shine in his absence.
Winner: Corey Ballentine
Rookie defensive back Corey Ballentine has overcome a lot this year. You all know of his ordeal — the shooting incident in April — but Ballentine has come a long way since then. He is healthy and is using that ordeal as a motivator as he forges his pro career. He has extraordinary talent and has flashed many times in camp thus far.
Loser: B.J. Goodson
This is a make-or-break season for fourth-year linebacker B.J. Goodson, who sat out team portions of practice the end of the week with a hamstring issue. That’s not good news for him as rookie Ryan Connelly and second-year player Tae Davis gobble up the reps at inside linebacker. The coaches appear to already be in Davis and Connelly’s corner, so Goodson needs to get back on the field soon.
Winner: Paul Perkins
Before camp, few knew that running back Paul Perkins was still on the roster. They know now after Perkins reeled in a beautiful long pass from Jones for a touchdown this week. Perkins is completely healthy for once and has impressed the coaches in camp. He will be hard to cut.
Winner: Jake Carlock
Jake Carlock is a guy that is impressing every time he goes out on the field. He is a local kid brought in as a UDFA from LIU who doesn’t quite have the size and speed to play any single position. That may not matter. He has the heart of lion and plays at 100 miles an hour. The defensive coaches love him and he could be the Giants’ future long snapper as well.
