Giants at Patriots: What I’ll Be Watching

The starters won't play for either team, but that doesn't make tonight's preseason finale between the Giants and Patriots any less interesting, not with so many roster questions still to be settled. Her'es a look at some of what I'll be watching.

The Giants wrap up the 2019 preseason schedule tonight at New England, a game that is likely to see zero starters from both teams play.

That, of course, comes as no surprise considering there are still roster spots to be won. So, on that vein, here’s a look at what some of what I’ll be watching for in this precursor to the start of the regular season.

Receivers

Right now, the battle for the bottom of the receiver depth chart is still too close to call.

Here’s what is known. Sterling Shepard, Cody Latimer, and Russell Shepard are believed to be roster locks. Golden Tate is headed for a four-game suspension, and won’t count among the final makeup of this unit.

Despite his nagging hamstring injury, I suspect that Darius Slayton will get a roster spot, especially if, as head coach Pat Shurmur said recently, the injury isn’t too bad.

I also have a suspicion that Alex Wesley, who suffered a left ankle injury in Tuesday’s practice, could be IR-bound.

I think special teams is going to dictate who among Reggie White Jr., Bennie Fowler, Brittan Golden, Alonzo Russell, and T.J. Jones gets those last two roster spots.

White, I think, is practice squad bound. Russell, despite his hustle on a few plays this summer, is going to get swept up in the numbers game.

I think Fowler will hold on to his roster spot, which would leave it up to one of Golden or Jones being the sixth man. I would go then with Golden as the punt returner as he has shown a more natural feel for the role. That’s six receivers, with one of those two likely to be sent packing once Tate’s suspension ends (assuming there are no more injuries.)

Off-ball Linebackers

Tonight’s game could very well be the Giants swan song for B.J. Goodson, a starter on last year’s defense. Goodson has slid so far down the depth chart that it’s hard to envision him making the 53-man roster.

Goodson still has value to where perhaps general manager Dave Gettleman can swing a trade for a conditional draft pick.

The question mark that could be decided here is whether rookie Josiah Tauaefa can squeeze Nate Stupar off the roster. Tauaefa has been dealing with a shoulder injury of late, so it remains to be seen if that seals his fate and he instead gets practice squad consideration.

But as I see it, that last off-ball linebacker spot behind Tae Davis, Alec Ogletree, and Ryan Connelly is between Nate Stupar and Tauaefa, both of whom can contribute on special teams.

If the rookie were healthy, I’d give him the nod over Stupar, who is a fine special teams performer but isn’t quite the tackling machine the rookie has shown  himself to be of late. 

In the end, I think Stupar prevails, Tauaefa goes to the practice squad, and Jonathan Anderson, who has flashed but who has a knee injury, goes to IR.

Tight End

Evan Engram and Rhett Ellison are locked in for the first two spots at this position. 

The Giants will keep at least three tight ends, but will it be Scott Simonson, the incumbent, or will undrafted rookie C.J. Conrad make one final push for that last spot?

Right now, Conrad is likely headed to the practice squad if he clears waivers, while Garrett Dickerson, who had a late summer flash, has an injury that might have knocked him out of the race for that final roster spot.

Daniel Jones

No, Daniel Jones isn’t in jeopardy of losing his roster spot, but he is starting tonight’s game in what should be his final major test of the summer. 

So far, Jones has been everything the Giants hoped he’d be and then some. And credit to Shurmur for the plan he put together to get the rookie ready for that day when he becomes the full-time starter.

Tonight, we’ll get to see Jones establish a tempo rather than coming in to pick up where Eli Manning left off. 

We’ll probably get to see Jones play through half time—at least we should as there isn’t any significant point in playing both Alex Tanney and Kyle Lauletta if neither isn’t in the team’s long-term plans.

Although Jones will be going against the Patriots backups, if he stands tall in his performance, that’s going to bode well for the young man who will continue his development behind the scenes once the regular season begins.