ROUGH RETURN
Nate Solder returned, at a significant cut in salary, to serve as the backup at both left and right tackle this season. The Giants wanted to see Matt Peart in his second year take a step forward and win the starting right tackle spot, but he did not do it, and Solder started Sunday in the season-opening, 27-13 loss to the Broncos at MetLife Stadium.
GIANTS NOTES
Solder opted out of the 2020 season, and it did not take long for him to make his presence felt. On the second offensive series, Soldier was beaten on an inside move by Von Miller for a clean 8-yard sack of Daniel Jones.
It was Solder’s first start at right tackle since Jan 22, 2012, for the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. He previously started 111 regular-season games and 13 postseason games at left tackle. Solder got a few snaps as a blocking tight end in the jumbo package as the Giants made two moves on their fourth series. Peart moved in at right tackle and Ben Bredeson replaced Shane Lemieux at right guard.
Andrew Thomas, matched up at left tackle against Malik Reed — and not Bradley Chubb, who did not play — was not a problem for the Giants. Daniel Jones was sacked twice. Jones was the Giants leading rusher with 27 yards. They totaled only 60 rushing yards. … Rookie Kadarius Toney had two receptions for minus-2 yards.
“We wanted to get the ball in his hands and give him a chance,’’ coach Joe Judge said.
Eli Manning, on Sept. 26 — Week 3 of the season — will have his No. 10 jersey retired and be inducted into the Giants Ring of Honor during a halftime ceremony of the Giants-Falcons game at MetLife Stadium.
Manning, in attendance on Sunday to see the Giants open their season, knows what awaits him in two weeks will be different than anything he has experienced.
“There’s already emotions kind of coming back into the stadium for the first time and when there’s a kickoff and you’re not on the sideline or you’re not running out there,’’ Manning said. “I think it will be emotional that day, just kind of one last true farewell and a thank you to the fans and the organization, all my teammates.’’