New York Giants Day at Camp: The “Crank It Up” Edition

Update/Clarification: We received clarification that the Giants Monday practice was originally scheduled to run 2.5 hours and that head coach Joe Judge actually had to remove parts of the practice to avoid going over the maximum time limit. The additional 30 minutes thought to be tacked on to the end of the practice were scheduled.

At one point during the Giants’ Monday practice, head coach Joe Judge huddled up the entire team for a rather boisterous one-sided conversation.

“We just wanted to make sure that we just established what the emphasis for the rest of the practice was,” Judge explained.

“Just wanted to make sure the players were aware of what we're trying to do at the end of practice and knew the speed of the drill and the emphasis of the drill.

Judge then had the players, who at that point went through a two-hour practice in 90-degree heat, go another 30 minutes and was pleased with how they finished.

“I thought they finished the practice with a lot of intensity,” he said. “We definitely got some good quality work.”

Judge has shown no signs of backing down in his quest to build the Giants team stamina and to ensure that they are eliminating all the little issues that in the past, cost them games.

Remaining fresh late in the games is a significant factor, especially early in the season, and during those times when one side of the ball has to be out on the field longer than the other. Judge wants to make sure that his guys are the last men standing in those instances.

“You have to build the football conditioning through playing football, and we've done a lot of work with our guys with post-practice conditioning and trying to work through the drills to finish everything to build our endurance.”

Evan Engram Shines

There are many players on the Giants roster who need to have a strong season, but perhaps none more significant on offense than fourth-year tight end Evan Engram.

Engram, who has developed more of a reputation as an injury-prone player rather than the dynamo playmaker that his skill set suggests he's capable of being, has had a solid practice this summer after working his way back from Lisfranc surgery in December.

Further, it's thought that in Jason Garrett's offense, Engram can potentially become the high-producing playmaker the team envisioned when it drafted him in the first round back in 2017.

A slimmed-down Engram thus far has been turning heads in training camp. Head coach Joe Judge recently said he loves watching Engram in action, and based on some of the plays Engram has made in practice this summer, it's hard to disagree.

"I just try to show up each and every day and do what I’m asked," Engram said. "If that’s going to be physical in the run game, if that’s using my speed to get downfield and get open in the passing game, then that’s what I’m going to do."

Engram's head down, nose to the grindstone approach has certainly paid off in Judge's eyes.

"Evan’s a guy who comes out every day and he really empties his tank. He focuses on what he has to do that day and what the focus of practice is. He does everything he can within his role to get better," he said.

"I think there is tape in the past on what he has been able to do, and he’s demonstrated throughout training camp a level of improvement and upside. He’s definitely somebody who has been a pleasure to coach every day and I’m glad we get to work with him."

Engram said he's focused in the present rather than harping on the past frustrations of struggling with injuries or role fit questions.

"I’m blessed to be healthy right now and to be back on the field with my guys," he said. "Each day is an opportunity to empty the tank. I’m not going to take that for granted."

But while Engram is focused on what he can contribute to the Giants offense, he's not looking too far down the line, certainly not when it comes to his contract.

The Giants picked up the option year in Engram's rookie deal, which means he's under contract next year. And after seeing George Kittle of the 49ers and Travis Kelce of the Chiefs earn new paydays, Engram is undoubtedly aware of what having a productive season could mean for him financially.

"That’s kind of my motivation right now, is to just come in and continue to get better with my talents and to continue to push my team," he said.

"I’m not going to worry about the numbers and the contracts. My focus right now is just becoming a better leader and a better teammate and a better football player."

How the Giants Handled Their Recent COVID-19 Test Scare

As noted yesterday, the Giants were one of 11 NFL teams whose daily COVID-19 samples landed at a New Jersey lab that reported 77 false-positive tests.

The Giants did not have any players affected by the tests, but a few staffers were. According to the team, two of the staff whose Saturday COVID test results came back as false positive were back at work Monday.

After the positive result, both were given a point of care test yesterday (Sunday) morning (the results of which were known within the hour). Both were also administered the standard PCR test that they undergo daily (the results of which were known late last night). Both test results for each of the staffers were negative. Both staff members were isolated at home until the results of their PCR tests were known.

The team also revealed that two other staffers were deemed through contact tracing to have been in close contact (closer than six feet) for more than 15 minutes with the false-positive staff members.

Those persons were administered their daily PCR test Sunday morning and isolated until their results were known late last night. Both staff members produced negative tests and were allowed to return to work Monday.

Iron Sharpens Iron

At the start of training camp, the Giants' defense appeared to have a long way to go given the youth and new personnel added in the off-season.

But of late, the defense seems to be coming into its own after going through several practices against a more veteran Giants offense, which could be viewed as a positive for defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s group.

“Our defense has been working really hard,” said tight end Evan Engram. “I’ll tell you one thing, they’ve been really physical in practice.”

That’s exactly what head coach Joe Judge has desired to see, not just on a defense that last year struggled with its wind and with finishing plays, but which at times couldn’t stop anyone.

Engram wouldn’t say if any player, in particular, stood out to him, but he did say he likes what he’s seen from the group.

“They’re flying around, they’re communicating, they’re improving each and every day,” he said.

“From a tight end group and as an offense, I know that the physicality and the attention to detail that they have is forcing us to get better as well and to attack those things as well.”

Darius Slayton's Mysterious Absence

Receiver Darius Slayton, on whom the Giants are counting to have a big season, was a new addition to the “did not practice” list and was not spotted on the field during the entirety of Monday's practice, per multiple reports.

Head coach Joe Judge has had the injured players out on the field working on the side with trainers, so the fact that Slayton was nowhere in sight is unusual and could be very telling.

It didn't help that Judge offered a rather ominous-sounding response to a question about Slayton.

“Trainers are kind of dealing with him right here, and (when) we have more information, we'll make sure we get it out to you.”

Other Injury Updates

Linebacker Ryan Connelly missed his third straight practice dating back to last Friday’s scrimmage. Previously, Judge indicated that Connelly had reached his max according to his GPS tracker device and needed a rest.

With the day off on Saturday, Connelly, who has been recovering from a torn ACL, has now had four days’ worth of rest from practice, making his absence more concerning each day.

UDFA Rysen John, the big wide receiver the Giants have been working at tight end, appeared to tweak his left hamstring. Also, offensive lineman Spencer Pulley left practice early.

Fullback Eli Penny missed his second practice in a row. Also, safety Jabrill Peppers and offensive lineman Shane Lemieux both left practice early. Judge said the team had a few guys dealing with heat-related issues, but it’s not clear if Peppers and Lemieux were among those.

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