With the Stanley Cup and Justin Tuck making a visit to 1925 Giants Drive on Wednesday, the New York Giants resumed organized team activities (OTAs) at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Here are the highlights from OTA No. 8:
TOUCHDOWNS
*Running back Saquon Barkley showed his receiving skills with an over-the-shoulder touchdown catch on a ball from Daniel Jones.
*Jones threw two touchdown passes to wide receiver Travis Toivonen and also found Darius Slayton and Richie James for scores.
*Davis Webb and Austin Proehl connected for a pair of touchdowns early in practice during seven-on-seven drills.
*Wide receiver C.J. Board made some highlight-worthy catches, including a pair of touchdowns from Tyrod Taylor. Taylor also threw a touchdown to David Sills V.
*Tight end Ricky Seals-Jones got on the board with a touchdown from Jones. Seals-Jones signed as a free agent this offseason after spending 2021 in Washington. He has also played for Arizona, Cleveland and Kansas City, recording 90 catches for 1,044 yards and 10 touchdowns in 54 career games.
TAKEAWAYS
*Safety Xavier McKinney, who said he likes the freedom to attack in Wink Martindale's system, grabbed the first of two interceptions on the day. McKinney broke out last season with five interceptions and was asked recently about the next step he can take in his career.
"Take it 10 times forward," said McKinney, the only defensive back in the NFL last season with at least 90 tackles, 10 passes defensed and five interceptions. "That's what I'm trying to do. Trying to make sure whatever it is I need to do to help this team win games and help us play great defense, that's what I'm willing to do and that's what I'm going to do. For me, that's what I'm focused on."
*Cornerback Khalil Dorsey timed up a pass perfectly and intercepted it going the other way for a would-be touchdown. Dorsey, who went undrafted out of Northern Arizona in 2020, was with the Ravens until signing with the Giants last month.
TOP PLAYS
*Rookie cornerback Cor'Dale Flott made a nice play to break up a pass late in practice. Flott is part of a new-look secondary and will compete for playing time at the slot corner.
"It's definitely a blessing to have an opportunity to have a shot at [starting]," the third-round pick from LSU said. "Definitely going to take it one day at a time and focus on practices and getting better."
*Cornerback Adoree' Jackson, who will also take on a larger role this season, broke up a pass today.
"Just lead by example and understand that's the position I'm in and taking full responsibility and accepting the role that's given to me," Jackson said of putting more on his plate. "I think that's my mindset. Obviously if you're given a role, you have to believe that you can do it and do it at the highest ability, in that aspect, just taking it a day at a time at practice and in the classroom or in the meeting room, whatever it may be, just trying to get those reps mentally and physically, so I can go out there and be prepared and do it at a high level."
*Tight end Daniel Bellinger, another rookie, got on the board with an early catch in seven-on-seven work.
REMAINING PRACTICES
June 2-3, June 7-9 (mandatory minicamp)
