Training camp continued on Tuesday as the Giants were once again practicing at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in pads.
It was a busy morning as the day started off with coach Brian Daboll announcing the signing of offensive lineman Greg Van Roten during his morning press conference. Outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux and wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson spoke to the media after practice.
Here are five things we learned Tuesday.
1. Kayvon striving for 'greatness, nothing less'
Following a solid rookie campaign that saw him finish fourth in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux took his game to another level last season. Thibodeaux saw his sack total increase from four as a rookie to 11.5 in 2023. He also set new career-highs in forced fumbles (three), tackles for loss (12) and quarterback hits (16). After making the jump from Year 1 to Year 2, Thibodeaux is setting a high bar for himself heading into his third season.
"Greatness, nothing less," Thibodeaux said on his expectations this year. "I feel like that's going to be something you guys hear from me every year, every time you ask me, just because we work too hard, and we've done so much to get here that now we're too deep in it to turn back now. So, this is going to continue to strive for greatness, and whatever that looks like in my career, I've got to be happy with it and the work I put in at the end of the day."
The 23-year-old was selected fifth overall in the 2022 draft. Despite his high draft status, Thibodeaux told reporters he doesn't feel a lot of pressure from outside factors. The young pass rusher is focused on working hard to get better every day, knowing that if he puts the work in, everything else will fall into place.
"Honestly, the thing about expectations itself is that it always seems bigger from the outside, but it never really is," said the young edge rusher. "Any athlete, anybody competing at the professional level will tell you that the expectations on oneself are always greater than the outside. So, I don't think there are any goals, any aspirations, anything that this team is trying to accomplish that the outside world isn't on the same page with.
"So, I don't see a lot of pressure. I think it's just continuously being keyed in on what's important and giving your energy to the day-to-day on getting better. I think it'll be good. I think it'll be great for us, and I honestly think the competition at each position is what's going to make us great."
View photos from Tuesday's practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
QB Daniel Jones (8)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
DL Ryder Anderson (90)
RB Eric Gray (20), QB Drew Lock (2)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
OLB Brian Burns (0), T Andrew Thomas (78)
RB Dante Miller (25)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82), DL Ryder Anderson (90)
OLB Brian Burns (0) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Isaiah McKenzie (87)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Isaiah McKenzie (87)
DT Jordan Phillips (99) K Jude McAtamney (99)
WR Isaiah McKenzie (87)
WR Isaiah McKenzie (87)
ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
Brian Daboll Head Coach
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
Brian Daboll Head Coach
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
Angela Baker Offensive Assistant
QB Daniel Jones (8), WR Malik Nabers (9)
Angela Baker Offensive Assistant
Angela Baker Offensive Assistant
CB Dru Phillips (22), WR Dennis Houston (88)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
RB Eric Gray (20)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29), QB Daniel Jones (8)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
WR Allen Robinson II (5)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
WR Isaiah McKenzie (87)
ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6), S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28) CB Deonte Banks (3)
LB Matthew Adams (49)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
TE Theo Johnson (47)
CB Darnay Holmes (30)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
T Andrew Thomas (78), OLB Brian Burns (0)
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
CB Darnay Holmes (30)
C Jimmy Morrissey (67)
RB Eric Gray (20), QB Drew Lock (2)
Brian Daboll Head Coach
DT Casey Rogers (91)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5)
DL Ryder Anderson (90), TE Daniel Bellinger (82)WR Allen Robinson II (5)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
WR Dennis Houston (88)
WR Gunner Olszewski (80)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
WR John Jiles (0)
WR John Jiles (0)
WR Jalin Hyatt (13)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
QB Daniel Jones (8)
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (47) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
C Jimmy Morrissey (67) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
QB Drew Lock (2)
RB Jacob Saylors (28) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OL Marcus McKethan (60) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
QB Daniel Jones (8)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
A look down the line of scrimmage during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
RB Tyrone Tracy (29) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
A look down the line of scrimmage during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
QB Daniel Jones (8) talks with G Jon Runyan Jr. (76) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
RB Eric Gray (20) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
P Jamie Gillan (6) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
RB Devin Singletary (26) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
P Jamie Gillan (6) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
P Jamie Gillan (6) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
RB Eric Gray (20) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
CB Nick McCloud (44) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
WR Isaiah McKenzie (87) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
CB Breon Borders (26)
CB Darnay Holmes (30)
Brian Daboll during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17) ) S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
A look down the line of scrimmage during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
RB Jacob Saylors (28) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
CB Breon Borders (26)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
S Jason Pinnock (27) and WR Isaiah McKenzie (87) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Brian Burns (0) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
T Andrew Thomas (78) signs autographs following Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61) signs autographs following Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61) signs autographs following Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Brian Burns (0) talks with Charlie Bullen during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
T Andrew Thomas (78) signs autographs following Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Bobby Okereke (58) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28) RB Jacob Saylors (28)
Carmen Bricillo and James Ferentz during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
DL Dexter Lawrence II (97) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
CB Deonte Banks (3) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Brian Burns (0) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
DB Kaleb Hayes (38) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Darius Muasau (53) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
T Andrew Thomas (78) signs autographs following Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
CB Dru Phillips (22) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Brian Burns (0) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
CB Dru Phillips (22) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
RB Devin Singletary (26) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
T Andrew Thomas (78) and G Jon Runyan Jr. (76) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
S Dane Belton (24) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
DT Jordon Riley (95) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Brian Burns (0) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Brian Daboll during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
DL Timmy Horne (96) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
S Dane Belton (24) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
WR Gunner Olszewski (80) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Chris Snee during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
RB Devin Singletary (26) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
2. Giants add veteran OL Van Roten
The Giants added another body to the OL mix Tuesday morning with the signing of offensive lineman Greg Van Roten. The veteran lineman started all 17 games at right guard for the Las Vegas Raiders last season, where he was coached by Giants new offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo. Van Roten allowed five sacks and 21 total pressures on 626 pass block snaps for the Raiders while committing zero penalties.
"He's had experience with Carm last year," Daboll told the media prior to practice. "Veteran player. Can see him at play in any three spots that we need inside. Left guard, right guard, center. I haven't seen him yet. He's just getting here now. He'll be out here at practice, just kind of observing for the first day…
"Glad we added him and throw him in the mix. Like what he did last year when he was with Carm. Tough, physical, good leadership. So, put him out there and let him get reps."
Van Roten has played in 110 games with 71 starts since signing with the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He also spent two seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts from 2015-16, where he started games at center, right guard, left guard and left tackle.
As Daboll mentioned, the 34-year-old has experience all over the interior. Van Roten has played 2,667 snaps at right guard, 1,763 snaps at left guard and 168 snaps at center, according to Pro Football Focus. Given his versatility, along with Jon Runyan's, the head coach said they will have to figure out where each guy fits best once everyone is back healthy.
"When everybody gets back healthy, we'll see how it shakes out. I wouldn't rule out left side, right side. We'll just see how it goes relative to how we got to practice with the guys we have…" Daboll said.
"It's day four here. Usually, we mix and match people. Obviously, you want to try to get your guys out there as soon as you can. With the injuries we had last year, we had to move people, shuffle people around. You do it now so that at least they've had some reps at it. You don't do it at all, and you just throw them in on game two and they haven't had one snap of moving to a spot. You'd rather work some of it now. But ideally, you'd like to get the five guys out there healthy, working together, communicating."
3. Wan'Dale: DJ's 'one of the hardest workers that we have'
Wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson knows all about the journey one goes through to recover from a torn ACL. The 23-year-old suffered the major knee injury halfway through his rookie year, which forced him to miss the remainder of that season and the start of the 2023 campaign. Robinson began to look like his normal self in the second half of the season as he finished with five or more receptions in three of the team's final five games, in addition to topping 75 yards from scrimmage in the same three contests. Now fully healthy, the third-year wideout is grateful to have had a normal NFL offseason for the first time in his young career.
"Finally being able to work out every day and just work on my craft and lift, run, run routes and do all the things I wanted to do," Robinson said about his offseason. "Last year, it was just a bunch of rehab and working on one leg and making sure, at this point, I was even running routes and just doing everything I could to be ready for the season."
While it was a regular offseason for the young receiver, the same cannot be said for quarterback Daniel Jones. The sixth-year quarterback suffered a torn ACL against the Raiders on November 5th and underwent surgery a few weeks later on November 22nd. Almost exactly eight months to the day that he had his surgery, Jones was fully cleared for the start of training camp, which did not shock Robinson at all.
"I'm definitely not surprised he's out here," said the young receiver. "If you know Daniel, (you know) he's one of the hardest workers that we have. You knew he was going to do everything he could to be out here and just to be able to go through the team stuff to be ready for Week 1. We have just little differences with what we had to do with our rehabs, just because obviously I have to run a little bit more than he does. But, he attacks it each and every day like he's supposed to."
4. Burns & Kayvon continuing to work off each other
The biggest move the Giants made this offseason was the acquisition of outside linebacker Brian Burns. The 26-year-old recently landed at No. 55 on the NFL's list of the Top 100 players, as voted by his peers. Burns and Thibodeaux should combine to form the franchise's most talented pass rushing duo in years. The pair of edge rushers have spent a lot of time together since the trade was completed back in March, and more recently, the two have been competing in various drills during camp in order to help each other improve.
"We set the standard in individual drills and team drills and how we play, and then we start to really use each other's skill set to grow each other's," Thibodeaux said. "So, for him, he's a fast, twitchy guy. I'm more of a long, powerful guy. And I can show him a few things. He can show me a few things. And while we're in the rush, right, I know how he's going to approach his offensive tackle, and he knows how I'm going to approach it.
"So, we kind of unleash it, and we just continue to play. And I think when you look at how a front rush is, it's balanced, right? And that's kind of the key to a good rush is having balance and the view of the quarterback. So, just understand that if he's going speed, I'm going power. If I'm going speed, he's going power. If he goes inside, I go outside. And it's simple. It's just knowing what a guy likes and being able to see it on the field."
Burns appeared to injure his ankle during practice earlier this week. However, the outside linebacker was out there on the practice field Tuesday, participating in both individual and team drills. While the calendar might still say July, Thibodeaux believes Burns' participation in practice sends a message to the entire locker room.
"It sets a tone, like, I'll play through every injury," the third-year outside linebacker told reporters. "But I think for him it's just balancing. And for me, in seeing him, it's like, 'alright, man, balance. You know not to go out here and kill yourself just because you want to be great'. Right? And I think that's that next level of what greatness is. And, granted, if he feels great to go, by all means. If you're hurt? Go. But if you're injured, the next step of greatness is, being ready for Sunday. So, I think it's just that happy medium, being able to gauge, what's the most important. But, yeah, him being out there is definitely always a sign of strength."
5. Injury updates
Daboll started off his morning press conference by providing some injury updates on various players that have gotten a bit banged up in the first week of training camp.
On outside linebacker Brian Burns: "Ankle, nothing bad. Still be out. Doing Individual. We'll evaluate him, see how he does, but he'll be okay."
On tight end Lawrence Cager: "Cager got a hamstring, so he won't be up. He won't go today."
On center John Michael Schmitz: "Making progress. We'll keep him on the same routine we had him. We'll see where he is after this off day. But it's a little bit different than what he had (last year)."
On safety Tyler Nubin: "Hopefully he'll be ready to go after the day off here."
On defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence: "Dex is feeling a little bit better. We're going to put him out there, see what he can do, and then we'll just monitor it after individual."
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