Giants Country

NY Giants Recap: Giants Are Perfect in Preseason

The Giants close out the preseason at home against the New England Patriots.
Patricia Traina|
The New York Giants take the field, Thursday, August 21, 2025, in East Rutherford.
The New York Giants take the field, Thursday, August 21, 2025, in East Rutherford. | Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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New York Giants

East Rutherford, N.J. - And just like that, the New York Giants' 2025 preseason comes to an end when the team hosts the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium in what will be the last game in several respects.

First, this will be the last game, at least for a while, for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart to get extensive playing time. With the bulk of the starters unlikely to play, there stands a good possibility that Dart will get the starting nod, perhaps even getting a series or two with some of the starting offensive line, a unit he hasn’t had a lot of snaps with in the spring and summer. 

Besides Dart, whom the Giants coaches have gotten a good look at this summer, head coach Brian Daboll and his staff want to take a look at some other guys whose roster fates right now could go either way.

“We've got some guys we still want to take a look at, and that'll be important,” Daboll said this week. “This week, leading up to the cuts, is an important week for a lot of people. 

“It's also a tough week for a lot of people. I think you have empathy towards a lot of these guys who have done everything they could since they've been here, from OTAs and training camp to rehab and workouts. There are decisions to be made, and we'll make those decisions, but I know it's probably weighing on a lot of guys. It always does every year.”

The biggest questions still needing to be resolved start with who will be CB2 opposite of Paulson Adebo. Deonte Banks and Cor’Dale Flott have both been competing for that job, but thus far it's fair to say that neither has seized it, that, due in part to injuries both have dealt with, and inconsistent play.  

Daboll, as per usual, wouldn’t tip his hand when asked about that competition, even to address whether a rotation might be in the plans moving forward.  

“Yeah, look, those guys have been competing. I have confidence in both of them,” he said. “These guys have been doing everything we've asked them to do and competing at a high level.”

While Daboll wasn’t willing to disclose what he hopes to see, here are some other things that we’re hoping to see in the preseason finale.

RB Cam Skattebo: The Giants' rookie running back hasn’t had much in the way of work this summer due to a hamstring issue. He returned to practice this week, but will he get any snaps, given that there was just the one practice in which he took part?

DL D.J. Davidson: He’s played well this summer, but there are numbers to overcome on the defensive line. Can he put together another strong showing?

Receivers: The last few receiver spots will be devoted to special teams. So who among them will survive the final cut? 

Punt Returner: Ihrmir Smith-Marsette has suddenly been challenged for this role by the return of Guner Olszewski. 

Joshua Ezeudu: Now that the Giants have let him play more snaps at guard, he’s looked like the most improved of the offensive linemen. Has he done enough to stick?

Evan Neal: Look for him to get more reps at guard in this game. The question, though, is has he shown enough to bump Greg Van Roten from the starting lineup?

Follow along throughout the game as we bring you highlights, stats, injury updates, and more. Then be sure to check back with us for our postgame coverage after the game.

Fourth Quarter

And that's a wrap. Giants go 3-0 in the preseason. Can they carry it over to the regular season? We'll find out.

Two-minute warning

INJURY ALERT: Cornerback TJ Moore suffered what looks to be a serious leg injury on a punt coverage. Looks like his knee buckled as he was running downfield. Was carted off the field, his right leg in an air cast. Shame as he's had a nice night and preseason.

THOUGHT: If I were the Giants, I'd call the Jets to see if they're interested in trading for Tommy DeVito. Jets have 10 draft picks next year, four of which are in the sixth round. If the Giants can get a sixth-rounder for DeVito, I'd do that in a heartbeat.

8:26: After an incomplete pass, DeVito finds Greg Dulcich for the tight end's second touchdown catch of the game. NYG 42, NEP 10

9:16: Ah, DeVito's pass to Thomas Fidone II falls one yard shy of pay dirt. Still, a nice-looking 28-yard catch by the rookie tight end.

Yes, it's preseason, but the Giants have now scored 100 points in 11 quarters of preseason play. Let that sink in for a moment. They scored 273 last year in 17 games.

Third Quarter

1:08: Don't look now, but the Giants are over 30 points for the third time this preseason. TJ Moore picks off Wooldridge's pass intended for Jaheim Bell and returns it 44 yards for the score. NYG 35, NEP 10

1:23: Good block by Bryan Hudson, who helped spring Jonathan Ward for a 41-yard touchdown run after catching a pass from Tommy DeVito. NYG 28, NEP 10

6:58: Tommy DeVito finds tight end Thomas Fidone II for a 3-yard touchdown reception. NYG 21, NEP 10

Daboll said on the TV broadcast that he preferred that Jaxson Dart had slid at the end of his long run. Dart just had the wind knocked out of him. Tommy DeVito will get the entire second half in what could be his last snaps with the Giants.

Halftime

Giants halftime leaders...

  • Passing: Dart - 6 of 12, 81 net yards, 1 TD, 99.7 passer rating.
  • Rushing: Skattebo - 3 carries for 12 yards, 4.0 average, long of 4 yards
  • Receiving: Hyatt - 3 catches out of 6 pass targets (2 drops). 38 yards, 12.7 avg. 1 TD
  • Defense: Art Green - five tackles, 4 of which were solos.

Second Quarter

HALFTIME

0:14: Ben Wooldridge hits Jeremiah Webb for a 10-yard touchdown pass to cut the Giants' lead. NY 14, NEP 10.

Two Minute Warning

6:16: Winston's fourth down pass is picked off by Kyle Duggar in the end zone on a pass intended for Beaux Collins. I'm not sure that Collins ran the correct route on that play.

Dart is done for the night. He went 6-of-12 for 81 yards, one touchdown, and was sacked once. Dart also had his receivers drop three of his passes, which were on the money, so his numbers should have been a lot better than they were. Dart also had one rush for 23 yards. Dart was also evaluated for a concussion but was cleared.

12:42: Andy Borregales gets the Patriots on the board with a 30-yard field goal. NYG 14, NEP 3.

14:51: Big mistake on special teams. Ihmir Smith-Marsette called for a fair catch, but Dante Miller hit Smith-Marsette, who muffed the ball. Cole Fotheringham recovered the ball on the Giants' 12.  

First Quarter

  • INJURY UPDATE: Dart is cleared to return to the game. Let's see if he does.

2:37: Jameis Winston comes in and he hits Jalion Hyatt for a 30-yard touchdown. NYG 14, NEP 0.

2:50: Dart picks up the first down, but he'd better learn how to slide. Dart is being pulled off the field to be checked for a head injury. Jameis Winston comes in

2:55: And another dropped ball by Jalin Hyatt, this one on third down. Fourth down.

3:28: Andy Borregales's 49-yard field goal is wide right. Giants 7, Patriots 0

5:43: Greg Dulcich continues to reinforce his quest for a roster spot. He just saved a punt return for a touchdown. I could see him edging out Manhertz at tight end.

9:56: A case for DPI could be made, but Jalin Hyatt needs to catch that ball, which hit him on the shoulder pads.

13:03: Touchdown Giants! Dart hits tight end Greg Dulcich for the 7-yard score. Giants 7, Patriots 0.

14:19 Nice job of being patient by Dart, who hits Gunner Olszewski t1 for 50 yards. Patriots offside; declined.

Pregame

8:00 p.m.  Giants safeties are banged up this week. Layne (groin) and Belton (shoulder) were injured this week. Nubin has been out since the second joint practice with the Jets. Don't be shocked if the Giants add a safety from the waiver wire.

7:55 p.m. No Thibodeaux, Burns, Roy Robertson-Harris, Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Dru Phillips, Paulson Adebo. Also, Deonte Banks won't play (injury replated) and Jaxson Dart gets the start at quarterback, as expected.  

7:50 p.m. No Bobby Okereke, Darius Muasau, or Micah McFadden tonight at ILB. Chris Board is going to get a start, per Giants pre-game radio show.

7:35 p.m. The Giants only have two healthy safeties tonight, Makari Paige and K'Von Wallace, per the pre-game radio show. Interesting. Wonder what's up with Tyler Nubin and Jevon Holland (not that I was expecting either of those two to play.)

7:30 p.m. The Giants' starting offensive line is not going to play tonight, and that includes James Hudson III and Andrew Tomas. The starting offensive line is going to be (from left to right) Marcus Mbow, Aaron Stinnie, Austin Schlottmann, Evan Neal, and Stone Forsythe. (Per the Giants pregame radio show.)

7:27 p.m. Pay close attention to how much those who play tonight get in terms of snaps. If you see someone, for instance, who comes in late in the fourth quarter for a handful of snaps, that's probably a good indication that guy isn't making the roster.

7:04 p.m. Giants pregame show stating that many familiar names will not be playing tonight. Evan Neal, though, is expected to play as is running back Cam Skattebo, who should get a handful of reps.

6:45 p.m. I don't think the Giants are going to play their starters so soon after the Jets' preseason game. If that ends up being the case, I wouldn't be surprised if rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart gets a start in this game. 

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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