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Notebook: Tyrone Tracy Jr. 'exceeded' his own expectations

TYRONE-TRACY-JR

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Tyrone Tracy joined the Giants last spring with the modest expectations often carried by a rookie selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.

"My thing was just to obviously make the team but then be a value on anything, like special teams wise or at running back," Tracy said. "Really just get on the field and provide value for the team and value for myself."

Tracy has leaped over that low bar and kept running to produce one of the finest seasons a Giants rookie running back has ever had.

Entering the team's season finale Sunday in Philadelphia, Tracy leads the team with 178 rushing attempts for 780 yards and five touchdowns. He is also fourth with 36 receptions for 277 yards and one score. His six total touchdowns tie him with wide receiver Malik Nabers for the team lead. Nabers was selected sixth in the draft, while Tracy went 166th.

If Tracy rushes for 51 yards and catches two passes against the Eagles, he will climb to second on two significant rookie lists.

The former would move him past Pro Football Hall of Famer Tuffy Leemans, who ran for 830 yards in 1936, and into second place among Giants rookies, behind only Saquon Barkley (1,307 yards in 2018). Two receptions would lift him above Bobby Duhon (37 in 1968) and leave him trailing only Barkley (91) among Giants rookie running backs.

What do you think of that, Tyrone Tracy?

"I think I've done well for myself," Tracy said. "I've exceeded my own expectations, but then also I made my expectations for myself higher. I feel like I've placed a standard for when I step on the field that not only I look at, but the other people around me, when I step on that field they know the type of person they're gonna get, the type of player that I am, the coaching staff and my teammates as well.

"I am just happy. That's a word that people overuse, but that's just me. I'm full of joy, I'm happy. I'm m just blessed that God has allowed me to experience this. I've experienced a lot of things that a lot of people don't get to experience their rookie year. I experienced a lot of things, so I'm just happy and blessed."

Nabers, Tracy and the Giants' entire rookie class have established themselves as franchise cornerstones. Despite missing two games with a concussion, Nabers has caught 104 passes and gained 1,142 scrimmage yards. Tracy is 85 yards behind him at 1,057. They are the first pair of Giants rookies and the third in NFL history to each have 1,000+ scrimmage yards. The 1960 American Football League Dallas Texans – who later became the Kansas City Chiefs - had Abner Haynes (1,451 yards) and Johnny Robinson (1,069), and the 2006 New Orleans Saints had Reggie Bush (1,307) and Marques Colston (1,038).

Nabers and Tracy rank third and fourth among all rookies in Giants history, trailing only Barkley (2,028 in 2018), and Odell Beckham, Jr. (1,340 in 2014). This is the first season since 2018 the Giants have two players exceed 1,000 scrimmage yards (Beckham had 1,071). Nabers (171 receiving yards and Tracy (59 rushing and 14 receiving) each passed the 1,000-yard mark in the Giants' 45-33 victory against Indianapolis last Sunday.

"It just shows how were finishing off strong," Nabers said. "Showing how much preparation and work that we put in through the offseason to come in here and make a difference to this team."

Unlike Tracy, Nabers had lofty internal and external expectations when he joined the team and at the beginning of the season. He has more than met them and with four catches Sunday will set a Giants single season record, exceeding Steve Smith's 107 in 2009.

"I'm proud of him, man, because he's doing all this while missing a couple of games," Tracy said. "He's a phenomenal football player. All the accolades he gets, he deserves them.

"We both work for each and every thing that we get, so I'm just happy to see a fellow rookie that we come in with and work together hit those numbers. It's pretty astonishing."

Each of the Giants' six 2024 draft choices have started games this season. Cincinnati and Washington have started an NFL-high seven rookie draft choices. The Giants are tied for the second-most with Arizona, Dallas, and Seattle.

In addition to the draft choices, two rookie free agents – defensive lineman Elijah Chatman and guard Jake Kubas – have started. With eight starting rookies, the Giants join Carolina and the L.A. Rams, for the league's second-highest total, behind the Bengals' nine.

"That's what you want," coach Brian Daboll said. "You're always going to go through growing pains with young players, rookies, first-year players. The more they play, the more experience they get, that only helps. As long as they have the right attitude, which our guys do, and the right makeup, that's definitely a good group to build with."

Particularly with Tracy and Nabers leading the way.

View photos of the Giants on the practice field at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

*Nabers was the only addition to the Giants' injury report because a lingering toe issue forced him to work on a limited basis. Cornerback Dee Williams (toe) went from limited to a full participant.

The four players who sat out practice yesterday did not work today: linebacker Micah McFadden (neck), center John Michael Schmitz (ankle), tackle Evan Neal (rib/hip), and defensive lineman Armon Watts (knee surgery).

*Darius Slayton has been elected winner of the 24th annual George Young-Ernie Accorsi Media Good Guy Award by the New York Giants Chapter of the Professional Football Writers of America for his professionalism and availability during the 2024 season.

The award is named for the two former general managers of the Giants and given annually to recognize a Giants player for his consistent and outstanding cooperation with the writers who cover the team on a daily basis.

A six-year pro and Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee this season, Slayton has been one of the steadiest voices despite the considerable ups and downs he has experienced as a Giant. He has shown a consistent ability to provide honest, insightful and candid answers to the many questions he faced about himself and the team, and he has been an approachable presence in the locker room for reporters.

Slayton received 15 of a possible 18 first-place votes from members of the chapter. He had finished second in the voting in each of the past two years, appearing on a team-high 14 ballots.

In all, 13 different players appeared on at least one of the 18 ballots.

Slayton's name will be added to a plaque that honors all winners and resides in the media work room at the Giants' Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

Winners of the George Young-Ernie Accorsi Good Guy Award

2024 – WR Darius Slayton

2023 – RB Saquon Barkley

2022 – S Julian Love

2021 – DL Leonard Williams

2020 – S Logan Ryan

2019 – TE Evan Engram

2018 – WR Sterling Shepard

2017 – S Landon Collins

2016 – WR Victor Cruz

2015 – CB Prince Amukamara

2014 – RB Rashad Jennings

2013 – CB Terrell Thomas

2012 – S Antrel Rolle

2011 – WR Victor Cruz

2010 – DT Barry Cofield

2009 – DE Mathias Kiwanuka

2008 – QB Eli Manning

2007 – DE Justin Tuck

2006 – WR Plaxico Burress

2005 – RB Tiki Barber

2004 – QB Kurt Warner

2003 – WR Ike Hilliard

2002 – QB Kerry Collins

2001 – OL Lomas Brown

View photos of the all-time history of New York Giants in the Pro Bowl.

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