EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Matthew Adams was so excited to put on pads for the first time this summer he was in full uniform two hours before the Giants' 10 a.m. practice began.
Adams was the only one of the Giants' 90 players to attend the Giants' 9 o'clock team meeting in full uniform, including shoulder pads.
"He had his whole gear on, so I had him stand up," coach Brian Daboll said.
Adams, a seven-year veteran linebacker who is in his first season with the Giants, had demonstrated his enthusiasm in the locker room after practice yesterday when he shouted, "we're putting the pads on and playing some real football tomorrow."
As Adams noted, the most notable feature today in the Giants' fifth training camp practice was the players wore full pads for the first time. It's a significant marker to most players in any camp, but no one seemed as enthused as Adams.
"I came here to practice," Adams said. "I'm staying ready, so you don't have to get ready. I felt real good being back in pads. The first day of getting pads, it's a lot different than just shorts and shirts. You just come out there and set the tone. I felt right at home."
So, significantly, did quarterback Daniel Jones, who threw wearing shoulder pads for the first time since Nov. 5 when he tore his ACL in Las Vegas, an injury that cost him the remainder of the season.
"It was good," Jones said. "I've been playing football for a little bit, so I remember how to put them on correctly. You definitely feel the intensity ramp up a little bit and the guys up front hitting, and it changes the feel a little bit. But it was good work out there."
View photos from Monday's practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72), G Jon Runyan Jr. (76), G Austin Schlottmann (65)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18), WR Isaiah McKenzie (87)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28) and CB Deonte Banks (3) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
WR Dennis Houston (88)
Brian Daboll talks with TE Chris Manhertz (85) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
WR Jalin Hyatt (13) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
QB Daniel Jones (8) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17) and WR Jalin Hyatt (13) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson (47) vs OLB Brian Burns (0) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
G Jon Runyan Jr. (76) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
DT Elijah Chatman (94) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
WR Gunner Olszewski (80)
QB Drew Lock (2)
CB David Long Jr. (20)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
CB David Long Jr. (20)
DL Ryder Anderson (90) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72), G Jon Runyan Jr. (76)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
TE Tyree Jackson (84)
WR Gunner Olszewski (80)
WR Gunner Olszewski (80)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
T Andrew Thomas (78)
WR Gunner Olszewski (80)
TE Jack Stoll (89)
RB Jashaun Corbin (35)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
QB Drew Lock (2), RB Dante Miller (25)
WR Malik Nabers (9)
T Jermaine Eluemunor (72)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51), T Andrew Thomas (78)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51), T Andrew Thomas (78)
DL Timmy Horne (96), T Yodny Cajuste (70)
DL D.J. Davidson (98), G Jon Runyan Jr. (76)
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51), T Andrew Thomas (78)
DT Casey Rogers (91), ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
DT Elijah Chatman (94)
WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (6)
ILB Darrian Beavers (43)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), T Andrew Thomas (78)
T Joshua Miles (77), OLB Brian Burns
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93), G Aaron Stinnie (64)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), OL Joshua Ezeudu (75)
OLB Brian Burns (0)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
CB Breon Borders (26)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38), WR Gunner Olszewski (80)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5), OLB Brian Burns
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
OLB Boogie Basham (55) signs autographs following Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
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CB Deonte Banks (3)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
DB Kaleb Hayes (38)
CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
CB Dru Phillips (22)
DB Tre Herndon (23)
CB Nick McCloud (44)
OLB Boogie Basham (55) signs autographs following Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Micah McFadden (41) signs autographs following 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 Azeez Ojulari (51) signs autographs following Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
CB Breon Borders (26)
CB Dru Phillips (22)
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver III (36)
CB Deonte Banks (3)
S Tyler Nubin (31)
RB Dante Miller (25) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
QB Daniel Jones (8) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Azeez Ojulari (51)
OLB Brian Burns (0) signs autographs following Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
RB Devin Singletary (26) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
RB Dante Miller (25) 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 )
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
K Graham Gano (9)
K Graham Gano (9)
TE Jack Stoll (89)
RB Tyrone Tracy (29) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Brian Burns (0) vsT Joshua Miles (77) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
DL D.J. Davidson (98)
RB Dante Miller (25) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
WR Isaiah McKenzie (87)
WR Isaiah McKenzie (87)
WR Isaiah McKenzie (87)
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), OLB Brian Burns
OLB Brian Burns (0) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
WR Malik Nabers (9) and Mike Groh during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Carter Coughlin (52)
ILB Dyontae Johnson (54)
OLB Benton Whitley (48) OLB Azeez Ojulari (51) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
OLB Brian Burns (0) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Bobby Okereke (58)
DL Timmy Horne (96) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Brian Burns (0) vsT Joshua Miles (77) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
ILB Bobby Okereke (58) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Carter Coughlin (52)
Brian Daboll talks with OLB Brian Burns (0) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
New York Giants huddle during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
LB Matthew Adams (49)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17) 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 )
RB Devin Singletary (26) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
DT Casey Rogers (91) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) vs T Andrew Thomas (78) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Bobby Okereke (58), ILB Dyontae Johnson (54),ILB Darius Muasau (53) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
DB Elijah Riley (34) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
QB Daniel Jones (8) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
T Joshua Miles (77) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
RB Dante Miller (25) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Brian Daboll talks with 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 )
RB Dante Miller (25) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Brian Daboll talks with 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 )
S Gervarrius Owens (39) 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 )
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 )
TE Daniel Bellinger (82) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
CB Tre Hawkins III (37) 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 )
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) T Jermaine Eluemunor (72) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
ILB Bobby Okereke (58), ILB Dyontae Johnson (54),ILB Darius Muasau (53) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
TE Daniel Bellinger (82) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Brian Daboll and DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) battles with OLB Brian Burns (0) 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 )
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) vs T Jermaine Eluemunor (72) 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 )
OLB Brian Burns (0) vs T Andrew Thomas (78) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
G Jalen Mayfield (62) vs DT Jordan Phillips (99) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
TE Daniel Bellinger (82) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
QB Drew Lock (2) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
TE Daniel Bellinger (82) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
DT Casey Rogers (91) vs G Jalen Mayfield (62) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
G Jake Kubas (63) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Boogie Basham (55) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
G Aaron Stinnie (64) 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 )
DT Jordon Riley (95) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
G Jalen Mayfield (62) vs DT Jordan Phillips (99) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Brian Burns (0) vs T Andrew Thomas (78) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
DT Elijah Chatman (94). Vs T Marcellus Johnson (71) 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 Boogie Basham (55) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
WR Dennis Houston (88) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
WR Dennis Houston (88) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
WR Jalin Hyatt (13) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
OLB Benton Whitley (48) vs T Joshua Miles (77) 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 )
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) signs autographs following Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
WR Dennis Houston (88) during Training Camp practice at the Quest Diagnostics training center in East Rutherford, NJ (Evan Pinkus\New York Giants )
Jones and the other quarterbacks have thrown the ball throughout the spring and the first week of camp. But with the players in full gear, the evaluation of the rushing attack becomes more credible.
"When you're not in pads, running the ball is always a little tricky," Jones said. "Coaches tend to call more pass plays because it's a more real look. We put the pads on, and we start running the ball a little bit and get a sense for where we are with the run game, what we' re good at and working through that stuff.
"We got some things we need to clean up and operationally, work smoothly as an offense. But it was a good first day of pads; something to build on."
Tackling to the ground is prohibited, and no one hits Jones, Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito, the quarterbacks who wear bright red jerseys. But the players no longer must play the NFL's version of two hand touch in practice.
"It's fun," running back Devin Singletary said. "It's time for real football. I feel like we finally got to play some real football. I know the big guys up front were happy. The first day out is always fun. When you're trying to run through a tackle it might get your heart rate up a little bit more. But after the first team period, you start to settle in."
The team's rookies also welcomed the opportunity to be more physical, as cornerback Dru Phillips noted when asked what makes a good run defender in the NFL.
"I'm glad we got pads on today, because now you can actually go put your body on somebody," said Phillips, the team's third-round draft choice. "I feel like coming in here that's one of the main reasons why they got me here is my physicality. Today something just sparked in me. If I go shoot, I'm going to hit somebody. My first rep in the backfield, coach was like, 'You didn't do enough.' I thought it was a little thud-up, so then the second one I kind of went too hard. I think the main thing is really just the will, you want to go do it. If you have that mentality, it's going to happen every time."
The players most significantly affected by the introduction of pads are the offensive and defensive linemen. For months, they are unable to fully hit the player in front of them. That changed in the one-on-on blocking drills and the team periods of practice when some serious pad slapping was heard.
Asked if the competition between the lines ramps up with the pads on, defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches said, "if it doesn't, there's a problem in the house. That's what we live for. Who in here lives for meetings, who in here lives for just the weight room? You live for being able to go out there and compete putting on the helmets and shoulder pads and just showing your toughness and how you can help your team perform and be better."
How did the first real hit since January feel?
"It felt like it's been a while," said the player everyone calls Nacho. "I'm not gonna lie, I felt like it's been longer than it needs to be.
"But honestly, it was a lot of things that you can learn from. I felt like everything that I didn't like about today is fixable. That's one thing that I can look forward to rather than me being frustrated and feeling like it's out of my control."
Right guard Jon Runyan, Jr., a five-year veteran and first-year Giant, was excited to both deliver and absorb some real contact.
"It's what you look forward to when training camp starts," Runyan said. "The past few days, there haven't been a lot of runs. It's hard to get that cohesion going up front. The first day of pads, a little humidity out there and it starts wearing down your body. There's a little different tempo compared to the first four days. When there's no pads, there's a lot more hands, a lot more heads out. This is a lot more shoulders in there getting low, driving. It's a different type of finish. It's making you grow, making you a stronger player.
"This is where you start building for the preseason, the regular season. Day one felt good and hopefully we just use this to keep growing."
*Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (illness), center John Michael Schmitz (shoulder), safety Tyler Nubin (calf) and linebacker Tomon Fox (hamstring) did not practice.
*Daboll was asked about wearing pads for the first time prior to practice:
"Normal practice," he said. "We will work on first and second down. We will work on some backed-up situations. There will be some one-on-ones with the offensive line, defensive line and then some other group receiver, DB (defensive back), linebacker stuff. It will be good to get out there with some pads on."
*The Giants will be in pads again tomorrow.
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