Daboll remains mum on RB Barkley’s status
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Saquon Barkley is not attending OTAS, having not signed his franchise tag tender or received a new contract yet. Giants head coach Brian Daboll preemptively announced in an opening statement that he would not comment on Barkley.
“That situation is going to be between Saquon and the organization,” he said Thursday. “I’m not going to get into detail of any of the discussions we’ve had.”
Daboll would not even say if he expects Barkley at mandatory minicamp in mid-june.
“I’m not going to get into any discussions about that,” he said.
Daniel Jones said he speaks to Barkley “pretty regularly” and called him a “close friend,” but he also said “that’s Saquon’s business between him and the team.”
“I hope they get something done,” Big Blue’s quarterback said, who called Barkley a “great teammate” and a “very important part” of what the Giants do.
Rookie snaps limited: Neither first-round corner Deonte Banks or third-round receiver Jalin Hyatt worked with the first-team offense or defense on Thursday. Second-round center John Michael Schmitz was the only one of the top draft picks who saw first-team work.
Free agent signing Amani Oruwariye slotted at corner opposite Adoree Jackson, while veterans Parris Campbell, Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins led the way at receiver. It will be interesting to see how much of the draft picks’ acclimation is due to body management and how much is about playbook knowledge.
Daboll did say the young players were “behind considerably” at this stage, just like he said rookies always are. But he also called this a “learning and teaching camp” and said “no one is going to make the team off of performance at this camp”
Where’s the D-line? Outside Barkley, Thursday’s most noteworthy absences were on the defensive line. The Giants have eight interior D-linemen, and only three of them were on the field: Ryder Anderson, Rakeem Nunez-roches and rookie Jordon Riley. Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, Vernon Butler and free agent signing A’shawn Robinson were not there.
D.j.davidsonwasinsiderehabbing.infairness, there is a good chance those players are putting in harder physical work at home than theywouldhere.it’ssimplyworthnotingthat Williams($32million)carriestheteam’shighest salary cap hit, Lawrence just got paid and neither are here at the moment. Corner Nick Mccloud also wasn’t on the field.
The rehab group: Several players were rehabbing on a side field with trainers. Daboll wouldn’t say anything about their injuries or their progress.
The players were wide receivers Sterling Shepard, Wan’dale Robinson and Makai Polk; safeties Jason Pinnock, Dane Belton and Trenton Thompson; corner Aaron Robinson; offensive tackles Tyre Phillips and Marcus Mckethan; edge rusher Elerson Smith and inside linebacker Darrian Beavers. Davidson also was rehabbing inside. Phillips and Beavers worked into limited walk-through drills later.
Meanwhile wide receiver David Sills appeared to injure a left rib or his back on a hard landing late in practice. Sills came down hard on the grass after making a difficult leaping catch just outside the right sideline on a Tyrod Taylor deep bomb. Sills was in significant pain and eventually limped off under his own power. There was no update available from the team.
Preseason schedule: The Giants’ preseason dates and times are now set. They’ll visit the Detroit Lions for joint practices before a road exhibition opener on Friday, Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. Then they’ll host the Carolina Panthers on Friday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. and the Jets on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 6 p.m.