5 Storylines to Watch as Giants Face Dolphins in Preseason Game 2

To those who live outside 1925 Giants Drive during the day, the result of the New York Giants' second preseason game doesn't matter because, again, it doesn’t count toward the playoff race.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things that do matter in this game for head coach John Harbaugh, who figures to be extra interested in the following developments.

Will the Starters Play?

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Harbaugh surprisingly wasn’t asked that question after the joint practice, his last media briefing before the game, not that he probably would have revealed his entire plans.

Given how the starters and key backups dominated the practice and showed themselves to be in optimal physical condition in the sweltering and oppressive South Florida humidity, perhaps Harbaugh will give his starters and key backups a break for all that hard work they've been putting in by giving them the day off.

The other benefit of sitting the starters is that the coaches will get another long look at those still fighting for a roster spot, so there are two benefits to be had if Harbaugh decides the main guys got enough live work during the joint practice.

How Much, if Any, Will Running Back Najee Harris Play?

When the Giants signed running back Najee Harris, it was initially thought he would need a couple of weeks to get back into football shape.

So imagine the surprise when he took team reps in the joint practice with the Dolphins on Thursday.

“He looked good today,” Harbaugh said of Harris’s handful of reps in the joint practice. “Some guys are going to say fresh legs, but we're all going to have fresh legs in the first game. So, I was happy to see it. He looked good.”

Of particular interest will be how Harris cuts into the game reps for Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, and Devin Singletary, and in what situations.

On the surface, Skattebo and Singletary might have the most to lose in terms of lost reps in a game, but that’s still to be determined based on how Harris looks in his first live reps since tearing his Achilles.

Will Odell Beckham, Jr. Get More Opportunities?

Aug 15, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) warms up before entering the game in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Odell Beckham, Jr. only received 16 snaps in last week’s preseason opener, in which he caught two of his three pass targets for six yards. Of his 16 snaps, he ran 11 in the passing game, with 10 coming on the perimeter and one in the slot. And his average depth of target was just 6.0 yards.

For just about any other receiver, that might not be even close to being enough to make the roster, but we’re talking about OBJ here. To be fair, Beckham was open more often than his pass target numbers suggested.

Beckham can give the Giants snaps inside and out. Some may argue that he remains a long shot because he doesn’t play special teams, but the same can be said of Darius Slayton, who in 14 snaps didn’t get any targets and who has had a relatively quiet summer camp this year.

Still, the question with Beckham remains whether he can hold up physically for the season, serving as insurance ahead of the much younger Slayton.

Which Cornerbacks Will See Game Action?

New York Giants cornerback Greg Newsome II | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Giants got back their three injured cornerbacks, Paulson Adebo (hamstring), Dru Phillips (knee), and Greg Newsome II (knee) this week in practice.

Again, it’s not publicly known whether Harbaugh plans to play any of them, and if he does, for how long. But with competition underway for both starting roles, it would probably make sense for those who are healthy enough to play to get at least a dozen snaps in this game.

On a separate but related topic, it makes sense for rookie Colton Hood, who has hit a few hiccups with his transition to the pros, and Deonte Banks, who is trying to keep his Giants career alive, to see a dozen or so reps apiece this week.

Hood finished with the lowest coverage PFF grade (29.4) of all Giants defenders last week, and Banks wasn’t too far from him, finishing 26th out of 28 with a 43.5 coverage grade.

Both played in 13 snaps in the preseason opener, so it would not be surprising if they get a similar amount of snaps this week to continue smoothing out the rough spots in their respective games.

Will the Defensive Line Play Better?

Aug 20, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Giants defensive tackle Leki Fotu (90) and defensive tackle Darius Alexander (91) walk on the field during joint practice with the Miami Dolphins at Baptist Health Training Complex. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With few exceptions, the Giants defensive line depth behind starters DJ Reader and Shelby Harris (both of whom did not play in the preseason opener) was not very inspiring, particularly against the run.

Out of 32 total players on run defense, the Giants had five defensive linemen ranked 24th or lower in PFF’s run defense grades: Anquin Barnes (24th), Bobby Jamison-Travis (26th), Darius Alexander (28th), Zacch Pickens (30th), and Leki Fotu (32nd).

Yes, it’s just one game, but that’s not good enough if one considers that Reader and Harris are probably not going to play 100% of the snaps or anything close to that every week.

Defensive tackle depth remains a concern and is expected to be one of, if not the, highest priorities for the Giants once the post-camp cut waiver wire takes shape. In the interim, the players on the roster who have struggled can help themselves by putting on a better showing this week.

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