Club can finalize Jones’ O-line in preseason finale
NEW YORK — Daniel Jones wants to produce in his lone preseason action Sunday night against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium.
This is a dress rehearsal for what he hopes to do in the regular season: score points and win.
“Just [want] to get out there, be comfortable, move the ball and score points,” Jones said this week. “Like any game or practice, just execute football plays, move the ball down the field and score. Be efficient and execute as an offense.”
Joe Judge and the Giants, though, won’t be able to properly evaluate Jones’ regular season potential with all of his new weapons sidelined by injury.
Instead, their most pressing evaluation will be of their offensive line’s performance and how it decides their starting five for Week 1 against the Denver Broncos on this same field Sept. 12.
It may seem like the same names have shown up on the first-team O-line for most of training camp, but nothing has been finalized. Judge showed five different combinations of a first-string, five-man unit in Friday’s walkthrough practice.
Left tackle Andrew Thomas, center Nick Gates and right guard Will Hernandez have remained consistent. But Shane Lemieux (knee), Kenny Wiggins and Ted Larsen all are options at left guard — seemingly in that order — especially with Lemieux banged up.
And Nate Solder, now that he’s healthier, seems on track to overtake Matt Peart at right tackle based on both players’ performance. But each has one more game to make his case.
There is also the ongoing looming possibility of a trade or post-cutdown day signing to upgrade the interior. But the Giants have minimal cap space.
So at some point on Sunday night, Judge, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and O-line coach Rob Sale likely are going to want to see their preferred starting five on the field together.
Judge said the starters would play a full half at least.
“This game will be good for us to all finally get together and work more than just 19 to 20 plays,” Gates said Friday. “It’ll be good. We’ve come a long way since the beginning of camp, but we’ve still got a little bit of a way to go.”
There are obviously other positions Judge and his staff will be zeroed in on to finalize their full 53-man roster.
“There’s some key positions where we have to see some guys with a little bit of an extended exposure and make the right decision on the roster,” Judge said Friday. “There’s still some jobs that are very competitive for the final 53.”
At corner, 2018 third-round supplemental draft pick Sam Beal will have one last chance to prove he belongs. Rookie sixth-rounder Rodarius Williams can make a stronger case.
It will also be interesting to see if veteran Keion Crossen — who will make the team based on his special teams value — can play corner well enough to back up James Bradberry and Adoree Jackson (left ankle sprain) when it counts.