Head Coach Brian Daboll

Q: How's (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers)?

BRIAN DABOLL: He's good. We'll keep him down today. He'll go out there and do stretch, but he's good. He'll be good. It's not long term or anything like that.

Q: What did the MRI show?

BRIAN DABOLL: I'm not going to get into the details. He's okay. He'll be okay.

Q: But he had those tests though?

BRIAN DABOLL: He did.

Q: He had the MRI and the X-ray?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yep.

Q: So he has a sprained ankle?

BRIAN DABOLL: I mean he's got an ankle. It's nothing serious.

Q: How about some of the guys who left practice yesterday? (Tight end Lawrence) Cager, (tight end) Tyree (Jackson)…

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, (Lawrence) Cager is going to be down for a little while here. We'll still do more tests. It's his groin area. Good thing today, (tackle) Evan (Neal) and (center) John Michael (Schmitz Jr.) will be back out there in team, so they'll start doing team today. So that'll be good.

Q: It looked like (guard Jon) Runyan and (guard Jake) Kubas got shaken up…

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, they had shoulders. We'll probably back off of (Jon) Runyan a little bit today. Nothing serious, but we'll just give him a day here.

Q: Both shoulders?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, shoulders.

Q: Will Evan (Neal) work at tackle?

BRIAN DABOLL: Evan (Neal) will work at tackle.

Q: (Tight end) Tyree Jackson did you just say?

BRIAN DABOLL: Tyree Jackson's back was tightening up. He'll be out there today. See if it loosened up.

Q: How many of the guys that had been on the side, anybody back, like (quarterback Drew) Lock, (cornerback Cor'Dale) Flott or (cornerback Dru) Phillips?

BRIAN DABOLL: (Dru) Phillips will be out there stretching. He'll probably be going on the rehab field. Give him another day.

Q: Did you back off (running back) Turbo (Dante Miller) yesterday?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, a little bit. He had a little hammy (hamstring injury). He'll be out there. He'll be doing the same thing, individuals. We'll see if it loosens up for him.

Q: What about (wide receiver) Bryce Ford-Wheaton?

BRIAN DABOLL: He's good.

Q: Where does that put you at your tight end position with (Lawrence) Cager now going to be sidelined for a little while?

BRIAN DABOLL: In what regard?

Q: Numbers-wise, what you think you have at that position? Now you have to rely maybe more on (tight end) Theo Johnson?

BRIAN DABOLL: Well, we've relied on Theo (Johnson) since he's been here. I think he's done a good job. I think (tight end Daniel) Bellinger's done a good job. (Tighe end) Chris Manhertz has done a good job. Tyree's (Jackson) got the back and (Lawrence) Cager, so obviously the numbers will be down a little bit, but we've given those three guys that I just talked about quite a bit of reps. And then (tight end Jack) Stoll is back. (Jack) Stoll cleared, so it'll be good to get reinforcements there.

Q: Will we see that kind of tight end rotation once you get to the regular season where you're using four different guys?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, we'll find out. That's what training camp is for. Those guys have gotten a lot of reps. We'll continue to give them a lot of reps, and then that's a ways away.

Q: No one has asked about (defensive back) Jalen Mills. Where do things stand with him?

BRIAN DABOLL: He's getting closer. He's getting closer.

Q: If (center) JMS (John Michael Schmitz Jr.) is coming back, will he go right in with the first team?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, he'll be at center today. Again, it's a limited amount of reps. Ramping them up, but it is good to get them out there in team drills. He'll be at his normal spot.

Q: If you are backing off on (Jon) Runyan, will you put (guard Greg) Van Roten at left guard or are you going to keep him at right guard?

BRIAN DABOLL: (Greg) Van Roten will be right. (Guard Aaron) Stinnie will be over at left.

Q: Are you putting Evan (Neal) in at right tackle?

BRIAN DABOLL: He'll play right tackle today.

Q: With the ones?

BRIAN DABOLL: No, with the twos.

Q: Did you say (Lawrence) Cager's injury is a hamstring?

BRIAN DABOL: It's a groin, yeah. But that one's going to be longer than these other ones we've talked about.

Q: What have you thought about (outside linebacker) Kayvon (Thibodeaux) this camp?

BRIAN DABOLL: He's had a good camp. I think that his pass rush has evolved. I think he's practicing at a good tempo, a good speed. You notice him out there. He's been pretty consistent with everything that we've asked him to do. I've been pleased with Kayvon (Thibodeaux). I've been pleased with (outside linebacker Brian) Burns. I think (outside linebacker) Azeez (Ojulari) and (outside linebacker) Boogie (Basham) and those guys that are competing are doing a good job as well.

Q: With a couple of the cornerbacks down, you've gotten a good look (cornerback Tre) Herndon, (cornerback David) Long (Jr.) and (linebacker/safety) Isaiah (Simmons) in the slot. Is anybody really stepping up in that group?

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, I think they're all competing. It's a competitive group. Some new guys we've brought in that are still learning the system. It's a group that's going to continue to gel and need to gel and communicate and do all those things. It's a younger group. All those guys have contributed, and they've had their days. This will be a good next few weeks to go ahead and evaluate it.

Q: We're three weeks into camp, how much progress has (quarterback) Daniel (Jones) made in your eyes? It looks like his accuracy is starting to come back a little bit. Maybe that's just a by-product of maybe at times testing his knee or your legs as you're getting back…

BRIAN DABOLL: He's made strides every day. Again, it's some new guys that we're throwing to. It's the first time he's been in team. It's been a steady improvement from when we started when he had his first go through in team and had people around his legs. There's new things, new pieces, new tight ends, new receiver. So, that's always a work in progress. At least that I've been part of, in training camp, when you're dealing with new pieces and things like that. Him coming back from the injury, I think he's done a fantastic job. He's continuing to grow and he's done well here these last couple weeks.

Q: Do you have to do anything to manage that?

BRIAN DABOLL: No.

Q: With regards to the knee? I see him sometimes doing the extra stuff, running…

BRIAN DABOLL: Yeah, if he doesn't get enough running in to go ahead and rehab his knee, they do extra stuff after practice. Just continue to ramp it up. He feels good. If everything goes as planned, I anticipate him playing and it'll be good for him.

Q: Did you see any noticeable acceleration, I guess, about the timing with Daniel (Jones) and the receivers when you did some 7-on-7s last week? Did that help in that aspect of it, going and finally doing some 7-on-7?

BRIAN DABOLL: No, I think team (periods) has helped the most. You have to operate in the pocket. You have (defensive lineman) Dexter (Lawrence) and (Brian) Burns running at you. I think that's important for him to feel that. The 7-on-7s, that was the first time, we've done plenty of 7-on-7 in OTAs. I think that's why we've done so much team. I think that helps him in particular.

Q: Are you planning on bringing in another quarterback with Tyree (Jackson)'s injury?

BRIAN DABOLL: No, I think (quarterback) Drew (Lock) might, we might be able to use Drew (Lock) here if we need him. He's gotten a lot better here these last few days. I envision (quarterback) Tommy (DeVito) being the next guy in based on Drew (Lock)'s injury, for this game. I think Drew (Lock) has a chance to go ahead and suit up and if we need him to go in, (he'll) be able to do that.

Q: Is Turbo (Dante Miller)'s hamstring a long-term thing possibly?

BRIAN DABOLL: No, I don't think so. But, I couldn't tell you. Hamstrings are hamstrings. He went out there and did some individual. He'll do a little bit more today. Hopefully, he gets good enough to be able to play but we'll see.

Q: Do you agree he's had a really strong camp?

BRIAN DABOLL: Turbo (Dante Miller)?

Q: Yeah…

BRIAN DABOLL: Again, there's some good plays that he's made and he's still learning the offense and being where he's supposed to be and all the little intricacies playing running back. When he's had the ball in his hand, he's made some good plays for us. There's a lot that goes into running back with all the other things and he's still learning that but he's a good young guy to work with.

Q: How much of a blow is it whether it's him or (linebacker Dyontae) Johnson or a young guy trying to prove himself to have an injury at this point?

BRIAN DABOLL: You feel for those guys that are competing for roster spots that get injured. I know they're doing everything they can do to get out there but a guy like Dyontae (Johnson), he's worked his tail off. He's been productive in camp. Then he gets the ankle and Turbo (Dante Miller) gets the hamstring. They'll do everything they can do to get back but valuable reps you miss in terms of the evaluation process when you're not out there.

Q: Tyrone Tracy, he seems to be picking up the pass pro(taction) aspect of it. Is that something you've seen early on? For a rookie. Am I wrong with that?

BRIAN DABOLL: No, I think he's done a good job of really picking up all the little nuances, the protections, the identifications, the route concepts, the alignments. He's a smart player. I'm glad we got him.

Q: Does his experience as a receiver help in any way in pass pro(tection)?

BRIAN DABOLL: Maybe not in pass pro(taction) but I think the instinctiveness of route running, that certainly helps. You can have the lines on the paper, but he has some pretty good feel for zone awareness, how to set guys up in man (coverage). I think that playing receiver has helped him in that area but the protection part of it, the physicalness, all those things, that's a little bit different than playing receiver. He's got good size though. He's got good length. He's done well for a young player that's just entered into our program.

Q: What's your inclination at this point of how much you'll play your starters in this game?

BRIAN DABOLL: Not there yet.

Q: One position that you always talk about with chemistry is the offensive line. How much does it bother you that you haven't been able to get that whole group on the field?

BRIAN DABOLL: You love to have all the guys on the field, but the reality is they're not. Again, you'll have your five guys and anyone behind them has to be able to play multiple positions when they go to a game, if they dress for a game, for injury purposes. Most places I've been, it's been a constant shuffle to go ahead and evaluate this time of year. I would have loved for it to just be the five guys that were going to be in there. That's not the case, but people are getting valuable reps and guys have played with each other. Whether (tackle Jermaine) Eluemunor was playing over there, if we need him to go over there, but certainly you'd like to have all of them out there.

Running Back Devin Singletary

Q: How difficult is it to see (running back) Tyrone Tracy go down like that?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: Very difficult. We put a lot into this. You can't really prevent injuries in this game. It's a 100% injury rate, but you always hate to see one of your brothers go down. We don't know exactly what's going on, but we hate to see him go down.

Q: What can you say about the positive football he's put on tape so far and what his potential is?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: A lot of potential. It's been great. Coming in as a rookie, playing the way he's been playing. I would say he hasn't really been playing like a rookie. He's been like a second or third year player, the way he's been performing. Of course, he still has room to grow, but he's off to a good start.

Q: For however long he is out, what do the rest of you guys specifically in the running back room have to do?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: We're just going to count on one another. Basically, pick up for him. Hold it down for him. We've just got to keep rolling, keep getting better, keep finding ways to get better. That's really what it comes down to.

Q: What have you learned about this offense from the first three weeks here? I guess the spring, too. Because you're familiar with it, but I'm sure there are some differences and changes from when you were in Buffalo…

DEVIN SINGLETARY: Of course. As an offense as a whole, I would say a lot of hungry guys on the offensive side. As far as the scheme and the play calling, I feel like we're off to a good start. Just from the first day of practice to now, I feel like we're starting to get rolling. It's still early on, but we're off to a good start.

Q: If someone would say, 'What's the identity of this kind of offense,' what would you say?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: We're still finding it, I would say.

Q: What point do you need to have an identity? Is that something that takes time into the season or a little into the summer?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: I think a little bit of both. You kind of want to have an idea of who you are in the summer. But throughout the season, you really figure it out. Especially on the early part, early on.

Q: How's your camp?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: My camp has been good. I'm feeling good. Camp has been going good. It's fun to be back in this offense. I feel like I'm gelling with the guys good.

Q: What makes this fun for a running back, in this offense?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: Man, you can do everything. You can catch the ball out of the backfield. They're going to hand you the ball off, obviously. You've got to be able to pass pro, but for me, pass pro is fun. I miss playing defense, so that's the way of me to get that feeling to be able to hit somebody. But that's the way it's fun for a running back.

Q: What were you, a safety or a cornerback?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: I played nickel.

Q: You were a nickel?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: Yeah.

Q: Do you want some action on Saturday?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: Yeah, of course I want action. I always want action. We'll see what (Head Coach) Dabs (Brian Daboll) has planned, but I always want some action.

Q: How similar is this offense to what you did with Dabs in Buffalo?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: It's pretty similar. He's put his own little spin to it, but it's very similar.

Q: So you kind of felt like you had a head start a little?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: Yeah, I would say like a head start or a refreshment in a way, coming back into the offense.

Q: (Quarterback) Daniel Jones is a guy who takes a lot of criticism publicly. There's a lot of different things said about him. I'm curious, what have you seen from him and how different is it maybe than what you thought coming in?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: For me, I didn't think anything. I like to meet someone first before I make any assumptions. For me personally, he's a dog. He comes to work every day. Definitely a playmaker. I feel like we're going to have a lot of fun this year with him.

Q: What do you mean by 'he's a dog'? In what ways does he show you that?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: Yeah, just the way he attacks every day. In practice, on the field, how he goes about his business. You know a dog when you see a dog.

Q: I wasn't sure if you were talking about when he jumped in the middle of the pile last week…

DEVIN SINGLETARY: I mean, that's definitely one way. Of course, we don't want him in that situation, but that's definitely one example for sure.

Wide Receiver Malik Nabers

Q: So, what did you think when it first happened? When you first rolled your ankle, what did you think? No big deal, or like 'oh crap'?

MALIK NABERS: No, at first when I did it, it wasn't a big deal. I went out, did another play, and then it was like, 'no, something just doesn't feel right'. So, I wanted to get it checked.

Q: How are you feeling?

MALIK NABERS: I'm feeling good. I don't think it's really anything too serious though.

Q: Just a sprain?

MALIK NABERS: Yeah, just typical things that happen with the ankle when you play football, you play basketball, really.

Q: Not a high sprain?

MALIK NABERS: No, nothing too serious.

Q: Can you envision how it happened? Like, do you know exactly?

MALIK NABERS: No, I really didn't know during practice until I watched the film. I watched the play that it happened, and I really didn't know what I did with my foot. And then when I watched it, I was like, 'alright, cool'. That's the reason why I'm feeling it. But when I watched it again, how I watched it, to see that happen, and I don't feel really a lot going on right now, so it wasn't that bad of an injury. I'm just making sure I'm fine.

Q: Any doubt that you'll be ready for week one?

MALIK NABERS: No doubt.

Q: What have they told you about how you're going to manage it? Are they going to be cautious with you this week?

MALIK NABERS: Yeah, pretty cautious just to see how I feel, make sure I'm 100 percent. Make sure I'm able to practice at a high speed and play at full speed.

Q: I would assume that's important for you too? You don't want to go out there at half speed just based on who you are and what you want out of practice.

MALIK NABERS: Yeah, of course, I'm always trying to, you know, be 100 percent healthy when I'm out there on the field. I got to be available to play. So, I'm going to always take my health first.

Q: Presuming you don't play Saturday; would you like to get in against the Jets? To get some more preseason work in before the season starts.

MALIK NABERS: It's a game rep. So, every game opportunity rep that I have, of course I'm going to take advantage of it. But if that's what my coaches decide on it, that's what I decide on, then that's what's going to happen.

Q: How does it feel right now?

MALIK NABERS: It feels good, getting back healthy. Just continuing with the rehab.

Q: Did you think it was worse than it is when it first happened?

MALIK NABERS: Most definitely, yeah. But when I got the x-ray and MRI on it, nothing really showed up.

Q: Is it the foot, the ankle? How would you describe exactly?

MALIK NABERS: Really my ankle, yeah. Just really my ankle. But like I said again, it's not that big.

Q: Was that a huge relief when you got the news?

MALIK NABERS: Oh, yeah, because as a football player, you always think the worst or anything if you're not able to play. So, to hear the good news come back saying that it was really nothing, it's just going to take, rehab and time, so, that was good to hear.

Q: Have you had the opportunity to do any running or jogging yet or is it still not quite at that point yet?

MALIK NABERS: Yeah, I had an opportunity to get out there today, warm up with the team, get a little bit of jogging. And it felt good so, yeah.

Q: Is the fact that you're not wearing any support gear as you're out there, is that an encouraging thing for you or do you think you'll need something if you're actually back playing?

MALIK NABERS: No, I won't need anything when I'm back rolling.

Q: We've all obviously sprained our ankles before. I'm sure you have. But any notable nagging ankle issues for you in the past?

MALIK NABERS: No, not that I know of for sure.

Q: Is this frustrating?

MALIK NABERS: No.

Q: How much do you want to be back on the field sooner or versus 'hey, let's just get healthy for the rest of the camp'?

MALIK NABERS: Yeah, I always want to get back on the field, but like I said, health is 100 percent of what I'm focused on right now just before we start going onto week one, to be healthy when the season really starts. That's the main focus.

Q: Is it rest right now mostly or are you actually working on it right now?

MALIK NABERS: Just working on it.

Q: What's it like to see one of your rookie classmates go down like (running back Tyrone) Tracy (Jr.) did today?

MALIK NABERS: I heard about it after practice, so I never really got into what happened. I just heard that he went down, and like I said, it's bad for an incoming person, coming into a new team, to go down to an injury that he faced. So, I'm not really sure of the injury. I just know I heard he went down. So, my prayers are going to be to him. I'm hoping he's in for a speedy recovery so we can get him back out there on the field because he's a pretty good back. We need him in the backfield catching the ball out of the backfield. So, having him on the field, it makes our offense better.

Q: Do you have a grasp of how popular you've become and how important you are to this offense and to the Giants this year? And years down the road, but just as a rookie.

MALIK NABERS: No, it really hasn't hit me yet. Like I said, I take it as just football. Whether I'm this famous person or not, if I don't do my job at the end of the day, I'm not going to be this praised receiver like everybody says.

Q: It's a nice position though, right? It's a nice opportunity, right?

MALIK NABERS: It has its pros and cons, I would say. When you've got a lot of attention going on, you've got to know how to handle it, know what to say and how to say, what to do and what not to do. So, it has its pros and cons.

Q: Who do you lean on for that? These high expectations and staying very humble through this whole process. Who do you kind of lean on? Family, anybody that kind of levels you out?

MALIK NABERS: Right. I would say mainly family, but also like, coaches. Coach (LSU Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Cortez Hankton) Hank, I still talk to Coach Hank on the daily. (LSU Senior Offensive Analyst) Coach Carter (Sheridan) saying, 'don't get a big head, stay with the same mindset that you had when you came in as a freshman'. That same work that I was putting in before, I was who I am, make sure I'm still putting in that same work. I got that same dog mentality that I've been carrying on. So just having those daily talks with those guys, they keep me level, keep me humble.

Q: The last coach you mentioned?

MALIK NABERS: Yeah, Coach Carter.

Q: What was it like being in the game against the Lions? What did you learn about yourself in that game?

MALIK NABERS: I played really good, played fast. Knew my route discipline, knew my alignment. But still things to work on. Had a few knick-ups. But that's what the preseason is for, just to get everything right before week one. So, I think I played pretty fast, got open pretty good. So, gave my coaches a lot of confidence.

Q: With how you've performed in the summer overall so far, what do you think you've shown about your chances to be a difference maker immediately this year?

MALIK NABERS: I can get the ball. To get the ball in my hands. That's all I can put out there is to make sure I'm there when my QB needs me. I'm open. I know my route depth, know my route discipline. I know the offense. So, as long as I keep showing my coaches that I'm available out there on the field and I know what to do, the ball will find me.

Q: You said no doubt you're going to be ready for week 1. But to get to the level and play at the level you want to, what is sort of your checklist of things that you need to do here in these next, like, three weeks or so?

MALIK NABERS: Just need to make sure my body is 100 percent healthy. Like I said, I can't play out there with an ankle sprain, ankle injury because I'm not healthy. So, I'm not available to the team to help win games. So, I got to make sure that I'm healthy as possible.