Matthew Adams couldn't wait to put the pads on. So, he didn't.
When the Giants filed in for a team meeting on Monday morning, the veteran linebacker sat down in his full gear. Coach Brian Daboll spotted his eager player – not that it was difficult among the sea of shirts and shorts – and asked him to stand up. It was go time. The Giants were about to practice in full pads for the first time of the 2024 season.
"It's good to get out there and work your craft and really start the initial phase of training camp," Daboll told the media before the annual rite of passage.
For the day, Daboll scripted work on first and second down, some "backed-up situations" for the offense near its own goal line and, of course, one-on-one competitions in all three phases.
"The right thing is to practice the right way," Daboll said. "You have pads on, there should be a lot of energy. But you have to get good at your craft. It's playing with good pad level, good feet, good hands, still taking care of one another. There's obviously an added element to the contact part of it, but we don't want to practice bad habits and, again, it's training camp. It's hot. It's competitive. There's always going to be some type of shoving and things like that, but we want to practice the right way and carry those habits onto the field."
Here's what you need to know from Monday's practice:
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 )
TOUCHDOWNS
Daniel Jones and Isaiah Hodgins highlighted the receiver vs. defensive back drills with a long touchdown. Hodgins jumped through the traffic to make the contested catch in the middle of the end zone. Daboll said last week there is "good competition" in the receiver room and he looks "forward to seeing how it unfolds."
TAKEAWAYS
Cornerback David Long Jr. was around the football a lot on Monday. Among his handful of pass breakups or forced incompletions was a diving play where he tipped the ball up before he hit the ground. Second-year safety Gervarrius Owens alertly saw it, looked it in, and got his hands underneath the football in time to secure the interception.
Long, a former third-round pick who signed with the Giants in May, has played in 66 regular-season games with 12 starts for the Rams, Raiders, Panthers and Packers. He has also appeared in six postseason games, including a start in L.A.'s Super Bowl LVI victory.
TOP PLAYS
In his pre-camp press conference, general manager Joe Schoen said safety Dane Belton is "competing for a spot and a lot of playing time." Monday's practice was another example of why. The third-year pro showed good coverage, especially in one-on-one drills, and forced a few incompletions.
Three days ago, Belton snagged a walk-off interception to end practice. The former fourth-round pick out of Iowa started his career with a fumble recovery on the opening kickoff of his NFL debut in 2022. He has gone on to record four interceptions and recover three more fumbles in 32 games (685 defensive snaps), only seven of which were starts.
Linebacker Darrian Beavers, selected two rounds after Belton, also made a nice play today on a leaping pass deflection.
Rookie Dru Phillips came in with a reputation as a nickel corner who isn't afraid to get physical. So, it was his time to shine when the pads came on. Phillips showed his toughness on a run stop to kick off team work.
"I love it," Phillips said. "Anytime you can play football and put the pads on, it just clicks something different inside most people, like me. It just amplifies it a lot more. I had so much fun out there today."
Phillips was asked about the key to being a good run defender.
"I think the main thing is wanting to," he said. "I'm glad we got pads on today because now you can actually go put your body on somebody. 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 just really just the will, you want to go do it. If you have that mentality, it's going to happen every time."
During one-on-one drills, Jones dropped a perfect pass between the second and third levels of the defense for a nice gain to Darius Slayton.
Drew Lock had a couple of nifty throws during a team period, including a sidearm pass through the outstretched arms of the defensive line for a completion to tight end Daniel Bellinger. The other was a shovel pass on the run to wide receiver Gunner Olszewski, who used his skills as a return specialist for a big gain.
Defensive lineman Jordon Riley, who came in as a raw prospect a year ago, stuffed a run.
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