The Giants welcomed the Jets to the Quest Diagnostics Training Center today for a joint practice.

The MetLife Stadium co-tenants went up against each other in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills during team periods. The Giants offense and Jets defense took one field, while the Big Blue defense and Gang Green offense took another.

Head Coach Brian Daboll spoke with reporters before the training session, while quarterback Daniel Jones, defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence and wide receiver David Sills V spoke after practice.

Here is what we learned:

1. Giants, Jets have productive practice

The Giants and Jets took the practice field together today for the first time in well over a decade. Both coaches made it clear that they told their respective teams to avoid any fighting or being too physical. Prior to the session, Brian Daboll said the only thing different about today's practice would be the fact that they're going up against a different team.

"All we're trying to do is get better," Daboll said. "Improve our fundamentals. Compete against another team that has different skillsets, different scheme…We're going to try to practice the way we normally practice. Again, there's competitive juices out there. We all understand that. But we're not looking to cheap shot or do anything to – it's practice." 

Although Daboll is entering his first season as head coach of the Giants, Robert Saleh is heading into his second in the same role with the Jets. The pair of coaches expressed their respect for the other when speaking to the media. Daboll shared that the two had some good discussions this off-season, which led to the planning of today's joint practice.

"I've known him just from coaching in the league," Daboll said about Saleh. "But I met him at the owners' meeting in March or April, like I said. Good person. I always had a good amount of respect for what he did as a coach and then got to meet him as a person. What a great person him and his wife are. His family. And then we just started talking about it a little bit to see if it could work. And have a lot of respect for him and what his culture is. And thought we could get good work together."

2. DJ excited by Saquon's 'explosiveness'

After his last two seasons were derailed by injuries, Saquon Barkley entered training camp last month healthy and ready to go. The fifth-year running back played in the preseason opener, his first preseason snaps since his rookie campaign, and totaled 21 yards on five touches (four carries, one reception).

Barkley did not appear in last weekend's matchup against the Bengals, and Daboll has yet to decide whether or not the starters will play in Sunday's preseason finale against the Jets. But the 25-year-old running back has shown more than enough in practice over the last month to leave his quarterback confident about his play-making abilities.

"I think he's looking good, I think he's played really well," Daniel Jones said about the running back. "I think you see his explosiveness, his ability to make plays in the run game, in the pass game. He's dealt with a lot in the past couple of years as far as health, and it is fun to see him back practicing and playing like you're used to seeing."

3. Toney 'making strides every day'

Wide receiver Kadarius Toney participated in some team drills against the Jets on Thursday. Toney opened up 7-on-7 drills with a first-down catch across the middle, where he created separation from the Jets' No. 4 overall pick, cornerback Sauce Gardner, with his speed. The young receiver showcased his quickness a little later, when he again caught a pass on a cross route, this time from Davis Webb, on a play in which the Jets defender could not keep up with his speed.

"He's getting better," Daboll told the media ahead of practice. "He's rehabbing. Hopefully we'll do a little bit more today. We'll see how that goes. I think he's making strides every day, and hopefully we'll see a little bit more today. We'll see how much he does relative to team periods and things like that. But hopeful that we'll see a little bit."

4. Sills continues strong summer

David Sills had a strong day against the Bengals on Sunday. He finished the game with five receptions for 56 yards, including 15 yards after the catch, and generated a passer rating of 94.9 when targeted. The 26-year-old earned a 79.7 overall grade against Cincinnati, which included an elite 84.9 grade on his six run block snaps.

Sills and Daniel Jones connected on several passes during Thursday's practice. The receiver made a first-down catch on a cross route with Sauce Gardner covering him during 7-on-7s. Sills and Jones linked up for a few more passes during 11-on-11 drills, including an impressive catch 20+ yards downfield on a perfectly placed ball between defenders. The 6-foot-3 Sills, who caught six total passes from Jones during 11-on-11 drills, has made a great impression on his quarterback this summer.

"He's done a great job for us this camp," Jones said. "He's an extremely hard-working guy who you can count on to be in the right spot. He's a smart football player, he knows how to get open, he's talented from a route-running standpoint and someone who I have worked with a lot. He's been here for a few years, and I've really enjoy working with him. He made a lot of plays today, and he's made a lot of plays this camp."

"I think it's been a combination of putting in a lot of work over a long period of time," Sills added on his chemistry with Jones. "We've had a lot of reps at a lot of different routes in season and off season. So, I think he knows where I'm going to be, I know where he wants me to be. It's not perfect, but we're doing some pretty good things and I think we're going to continue to try to improve it and go out there every day and keep refining our craft."

5. More roster moves

Before practice kicked off, the Giants made a roster move early this morning with the free agent signing of tight end Tanner Hudson. In a corresponding move, the team waived offensive lineman Chris Owens.

Hudson signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after going undrafted in 2018. He spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad and did not appear in a game. Hudson then played in 20 games from 2019-20 and totaled five receptions for 67 yards. He also played in every postseason game during the Buccaneers Super Bowl run following the 2020 campaign. He then spent most of the 2021 season on the San Francisco 49ers practice squad.

During today's practice, the veteran tight end caught a deep pass from Tyrod Taylor for a huge gain.

Owens signed with the Giants on August 19 ahead of last weekend's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He started 20 games, including 12 games at right tackle and one at center in 2021 while at Alabama. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Owens in May and released him on Aug. 16.

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