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Instant Analysis: Takeaways from Giants vs. Browns

CARTER-COUGHLIN

AT A GLANCE: The New York Giants and Cleveland Browns met for two joint practices in Berea, Ohio leading up to Sunday's preseason game. The first units saw extensive reps against each other over the course of those two days, leading head coaches Joe Judge and Kevin Stefanski to sit their starters for the game, which ended in a 17-13 victory for the Browns over the Giants.

UP NEXT: The Giants are scheduled to hit the road again on Tuesday to New England for another round of joint practices with the Patriots. The teams will meet in the preseason finale at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 29 (6 p.m. ET kickoff). Clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 80 players on Aug. 24 before the 53-man roster is announced on Aug. 31.

Check out the best photos from the Giants' preseason contest against the Cleveland Browns.

WHAT WE SAW FROM THE OFFENSE

*With Judge expected to play his starters in the third preseason game, the first team got the day off again in Cleveland. That included the first-team offensive line, which was one of the rare groups to start in the preseason opener. Today, the lineup was LT Jackson Barton, LG Kenny Wiggins, C Jonotthan Harrison, RG Ted Larsen, and RT Chad Slade. It was the first game action for Larsen since signing with the Giants on Aug. 13. Originally a sixth-round draft choice by the Patriots in 2010, the 6-foot-3, 323-pound Larsen has played in 137 regular-season games with 88 starts for the Buccaneers (2010-2013, 2020), Cardinals (2014-2015), Bears (2016, 2019), and Dolphins (2017-2018). He has also appeared in five postseason games, including the Wild Card and Divisional Rounds last season for the eventual Super Bowl LV champion Buccaneers. Larsen has experience starting at both guard spots in addition to center.

*As Saquon Barkley ramps up, Devontae Booker has carried the load in the backfield. He rushed six times for 27 yards on Sunday, including a one-yard leap over the pile for a touchdown late in the first quarter. Corey Clement had a team-high nine carries for 30 yards.

*Backup quarterback Mike Glennon again started in place of Daniel Jones and completed 10 of 13 passes for 86 yards (93.7 passer rating). Brian Lewerke, who was signed on Monday after Clayton Thorson (concussion) was waived/injured, relieved Glennon in the second half. The 6-foot-3, 216-pound Michigan State product had two stints with the New England Patriots in the spring and summer in 2020.

*Wide receiver David Sills V showed sticky hands throughout the day. He caught three passes for 31 yards, including an eight-yard touchdown from Lewerke to bring the Giants within one point of the Browns with 7:11 left in the game. The Giants elected to go for the two-point conversion, but rookie running back Gary Brightwell was stopped short of the goal line. Sills led the team in receiving yards last week against the Jets in his first game since the 2019 preseason.

WHAT WE SAW FROM THE DEFENSE

*Quincy Wilson intercepted Case Keenum, who started in place of Baker Mayfield, in the end zone midway through the second quarter. It ended an 11-play, 65-yard drive for the Browns. Wilson was originally a second-round draft choice by the Colts in 2017. He played three seasons in Indianapolis before being traded to the Jets in 2020. He was released last November and then picked up by the Giants. Wilson, however, later left the game with an ankle injury.

*Linebacker Carter Coughlin showed his pass-rush ability again after catching Judge's eye with five tackles and a strip-sack in the preseason opener. On Sunday, he had a sack among his four tackles. Outside linebacker Oshane Ximines also flashed with three quarterback hits, including a sack.

*The Giants tried some players in different positions. Wide receiver Matt Cole, who made the special teams play of the game last week on a downed punt, saw some snaps at cornerback on Sunday. The do-it-all Cole also made a tackle on punt coverage. Meanwhile, rookie cornerback Rodarius Williams took reps at safety as the coaches look to get the most out of the sixth-round pick.

WHAT WE SAW FROM SPECIAL TEAMS

*Ryan Santoso handled kicking duties for veteran Graham Gano, who set a franchise record last season by making 30 consecutive field goal attempts. Santoso has generated some buzz in training camp, and the Giants put him on display against the Browns.

"He's competing for a job, and not only is he competing for a job here, he's competing for a job all over the league," special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey said earlier in the week. "Ryan has great upside, he's a good man, he works his tail off. That's what this league is all about, it's about competition and hopefully Ryan can do enough where he can get a job, whether it's here or somewhere else."

McGaughey added: "He can do whatever. Ryan can punt, kick -- I'm serious. He's very talented, and he's punted in NFL games before. He's kicked off. He can kick field goals. So, Ryan is a very talented young man."

INJURY REPORT: DB Quincy Wilson (ankle), DB Madre Harper (groin)

GAME CAPTAINS: DB Julian Love, TE Kaden Smith, LS Casey Kreiter

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