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What We Learned: Offensive line looks to build chemistry

O-LINE-KONICA

The Giants were back on the practice field Monday for their first of two consecutive padded practices at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

Following today's session, the Giants will practice on Tuesday and Thursday ahead of this weekend's preseason matchup in Houston against the Texans.

Coach Brian Daboll spoke to the media prior to practice while center John Michael Schmitz and quarterback Drew Lock met with reporters after.

Here are five things we learned at the podium Monday.

1. Nabers 'day-to-day'

The Giants received a bit of a scare towards the end of Sunday's practice as wide receiver Malik Nabers left early with an apparent ankle injury. The rookie wideout "twisted up a little bit," according to Brian Daboll, and the head coach said the No. 6 overall pick was feeling "a little sore today." The 21-year-old is considered day-to-day.

"Sore today, we'll back off him, take it day to day, but that's where we're at with him," the head coach said. "They're still doing evaluation on him but he's a little sore today, so we'll back off him and then we'll just take it from there."

Nabers has shined throughout the first few weeks of training camp. Despite the strong impression he's already made, the Giants aren't going to handle him with kid gloves, so to speak. Once Nabers is cleared by team doctors, Daboll said the rookie will return to the field.

"I'd say if they deem him ready to go and he feels good, we'll continue to work him and get work," Daboll said. "Again, he's a rookie. So, if they say, 'give him a few days', we'll give him a few days, but whenever he's ready, then we'll just go and practice. ... Look, if he's ready to play (against the Texans), then he'll play. And if they say, 'we need to back off', we need to back off. So, you'd like to see everybody be able to be out there and play, but you understand this is a contact sport. So, I think every team goes through it. And if the guys are ready to play, they'll play. If they're not, they won't."

View photos from Monday's training camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

2. O-line continuing to work on chemistry

Center John Michael Schmitz returned to practice Sunday for the first time since early in camp. Since Schmitz got injured, the offensive line has seen some reshuffling, most notably with the addition of Greg Van Roten. The veteran lineman could end up being one of the starting guards once Schmitz is back to 100 percent healthy, which means the two need to get comfortable playing next to each other. Despite Schmitz not taking a snap in team drills next to Van Roten as of yet, the two have found other ways to start working on their chemistry.

"Obviously to develop chemistry you got to be out there," Schmitz told the media. "But it doesn't only happen on the field. It happens in the film room. It happens off the field. It happens with the relationships. You guys going to dinner. It's just little things like that. Getting to know the person. When things get tough, this is what you do it for."

Schmitz wasn't the only lineman to return to practice recently, as third-year tackle Evan Neal was activated off the physically unable to perform list after he passed a physical Sunday morning. As the O-line continues to get healthier, Schmitz is confident that the coaching staff will find the best combination of players to put out there in order for the unit to succeed.

"Yeah, we trust in our coaching staff, and we feel like they're going to put the best five out there and whoever that is they're going to get the job done in that position," the second-year center said.

3. Lock '100 percent confident' he'll be ready for Week 1

Backup quarterback Drew Lock was forced out of action early in Thursday's preseason opener against the Lions. Lock did not participate in practice Sunday or Monday, as Daboll said would be the case earlier this week, but the 27-year-old is improving each and every day.

"Getting better," Lock said. "Just a little hip stuff. Each day I've felt better waking up. Doing more and more out there on the field. Happy with where I'm at right now, just taking it day by day."

Lock added, "I've been getting better every day. Me and Dabs have talked. Not ruling out the possibility of playing (vs. Texans). Again, go out there, throw, see how it feels. Keep doing that. Did it today. We're going to do it tomorrow. Do it the next day. Do it the next day. If the opportunity is there and we both feel comfortable with it."

While his status for this weekend's game against the Texans may be up in the air, one thing was made clear today – Lock said he will be ready to go in a few weeks when the Vikings come to town for the season opener.

"100 percent confident," the quarterback said about being ready for Week 1. "There's no worry in that. How I felt yesterday, even how I felt today, there's no worry about that."

4. Chatman has 'explosiveness & quick twitch'

One of the more intriguing position battles along the Giants 'roster this summer has been on the defensive line. While two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence will obviously start, who lines up next to him, and who backs him up on the depth chart, remains to be seen. Despite joining the team as an undrafted free agent following a tryout at rookie minicamp, Elijah Chatman has put himself into the conversation for a roster spot following a strong start to training camp.

Chatman is not your stereotypical defensive tackle. The 23-year-old lineman is listed at 6-feet and 278 pounds, which is obviously smaller than your average tackle in the NFL. But don't let his size fool you. Chatman, who was given the nickname "Baby Bison" at SMU, has flashed over the last few weeks, including recording a team-high five total pressures against the Lions last Thursday.

"He's done everything we've asked him to do," Daboll said Monday morning. "Again, he's a smaller guy, but he's got some length in his arms. He's got some explosiveness and quick twitch, maybe a little bit different than some of the bigger guys. I think he's developed since he's been here. He had that tryout. I wouldn't say it's unusual, but it's hard to do. So, he's earned some more playing time. We're going to give it to him and try to see him against as good a competition as we can so we can get a good evaluation. Give him some reps against the first team, whether it's our team or Houston, so we can get a fair evaluation of him."

5. Other injury & roster updates

While Malik Nabers got dinged up during Sunday's practice, he wasn't the only member of the '24 draft class that was unable to finish practice. Third-round pick Dru Phillips suffered an ankle injury, which led to the rookie cornerback sitting out Monday's practice.

"He got a little sore yesterday at practice, so we're just backing off him a little bit to give him a day here," Daboll said. "He was just tightening up in practice, so we pulled him back."

While Schmitz and Neal have been on the practice field the last two sessions, they have yet to participate in team drills. Both players will need to be ramped up before they get onto the field in a game situation, which puts some uncertainty around their availability for Saturday's game in Houston.

"We'll see. I'd say probably a long shot," the head coach said about the two young linemen suiting up this weekend. "We'll do individuals again today with the pads on, and then we'll see how they did, striking and doing things like that. I'd say probably a long shot. I wouldn't rule them out, but I wouldn't say it's 100 percent either."

The Giants made a few roster moves over the last 24 hours, as well. Running back Jacob Saylors was waived Sunday night and replaced the following morning by running back Lorenzo Lingard.

Lingard spent the offseason with the Jacksonville Jaguars before being released last week. The 6-foot, 202-pound back played in 52 collegiate games across six seasons, including two with Miami (2018-19), three with Florida (2020-22), and one with Akron (2023). He finished his collegiate career with 186 rush attempts for 927 yards (5.0 avg.) and seven touchdowns while adding 38 receptions for 399 yards and an additional two scores.

View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2024 cycle.

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