KAFKA PRAISES YOUNG TIGHT ENDS
The tight end unit has gone through some big changes since the end of last season. The most notable addition was fourth-round pick Theo Johnson. The 6’6″, 260-pound tight end has shown off his athleticism throughout training camp, putting his speed and agility on full display. While the rookie is still finding his way in his first NFL summer, Johnson has impressed his offensive coordinator with his early performance.
“Theo is a freshman and is right on schedule with his development,” Kafka said. “He was one of those guys that started a little later in training camp, just coming back from injury. But he’s doing a really good job. I’m happy. I’m excited about him. I’m going to continue to incorporate him into the offense and continue to find ways to incorporate him.”
One of the key players returning from last season is Daniel Bellinger. The third-year player was a major factor in the running game, catching 55 passes in his first two seasons with the Giants. Now entering his third year, Bellinger’s confidence and development are remarkable.
“Belly is one of those guys that gives it his all in the passing game and the running game,” Kafka told the media. “He’s continuing to develop and grow. He’s getting stronger. You saw that jump from year one to year two, and you can see his confidence in year three after playing in the same system for three years. That’s going to pay off for him. I’m excited about him because he’s one of those guys that I see and envision as the leader of this group. Whether he’s on the field or not, he’s one of those great teammates that you can count on.”
NUBIN “SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES”
After missing some time at the start of training camp, safety Tyler Nubin has shown over the past few weeks why the Giants selected him in the second round of this year’s draft. The No. 47 pick has put his high football intelligence on full display since his first day on the practice field. It didn’t take long for the rookie safety to impress his position coach.
“He’s really competitive, really confident,” Jerome Henderson, passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach, said earlier this week. “You just have to watch the (college) video — and even here — his intensity, his energy and his focus just jump out at you.”
“It was nice to see him last week against Detroit, too,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen added Thursday. “He’s getting better and better. He’s improving every day. I think the biggest thing about him is that he’s finally out there. He’s healthy. We missed him the first two weeks. And he had to play catch-up to get back into contention. He’s been good. He takes advantage of opportunities. He doesn’t make the same mistake twice. I’m encouraged by where he’s at right now.”
Nubin was on the field 18 times in the season opener against the Lions. It was a solid performance for his first NFL appearance, but one play in particular stood out. With the Lions facing a third-and-2, Nubin ran over offensive lineman Michael Niese, pinning the 295-pound lineman to the ground while Dyontae Johnson flew in to tackle the runner just before the line of gain. This was just one example of the physicality Nubin hopes to bring to the Giants’ defense this season.
“I think a lot of people don’t realize that I’m always willing to stick my nose in there and get dirty with the big guys,” Nubin said. “That’s something I’ve never been afraid of. That’s what was preached to me in Minnesota. That’s how I start my game – I get physical and then I feel good so now I can go look for the ball.”
CHATMAN HAS “EXPLOSIVENESS AND FAST TWITCH”
One of the most exciting position battles on the Giants’ roster this summer has been on the defensive line. Although two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence will obviously start, it remains to be seen who will be next to him and who will support him in the rankings. Although Elijah Chatman joined the team as an undrafted free agent after a tryout in rookie minicamp, he has entered the conversation for a spot on the roster after a strong start to training camp.
Chatman is not your typical defensive tackle. The 23-year-old lineman is 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds, which is obviously smaller than the average tackle in the NFL. But don’t let his size fool you. Chatman, who earned the nickname “Baby Bison” at SMU, has shown flashes in recent weeks, including posting a team-high five total pressures last Thursday against the Lions.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do,” Daboll said Monday morning. “He’s smaller, but he’s got long arms. He’s explosive and quick to react, maybe a little different than some of the bigger guys. I think he’s developed since he’s been here. He’s had that tryout. I wouldn’t say that’s unusual, but it’s hard. So he’s earned more playing time. We’re going to give it to him and try to put him against as good opponents as possible so we can get a good evaluation. Give him some time against the first team, whether it’s our team or Houston’s team, so we can get a fair evaluation of him.”
Squad updates
The Giants made numerous changes to their roster this week as the deadline for teams to trim their rosters to 53 players approaches.
On Thursday, the team traded veteran defensive lineman Jordan Phillips to the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants also signed running back Joshua Kelley and a pair of safeties, Raheem Layne and Jonathan Sutherland, and released defensive back Jalen Mills, who was on the non-football injured list (calf). Defensive back Elijah Riley was also placed on the injured list.
Kelley, 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, spent the last four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers after being selected in the fourth round (No. 112 overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. Kelley appeared in 54 games with four starts and recorded 320 rushing attempts for 1,148 yards and six touchdowns while adding 50 receptions for 319 yards.
Layne, 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, spent his first two seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, appearing in 11 games, including one start, before being placed on the injured list last October with a torn ACL.
Sutherland, 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, has yet to make an NFL appearance. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks last season as an undrafted rookie out of Penn State, but was released last August because of an injury (calf). Sutherland then joined Seattle’s practice squad and was released last month.
On Friday, the Giants signed experienced tight end/fullback Jakob Johnson, who played 67 games in his NFL career and started 34 times.
In a corresponding move, the Giants released or injured tight end Tyree Jackson.
Johnson, 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, spent the last two seasons with the Raiders, overlapping with current Giants offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo and offensive linemen Jermaine Eluemunor and Greg Van Roten. Before Las Vegas, Johnson played 37 games with 20 starts over three seasons (2019-2021) for New England, where he also played under Bricillo.
