Brant Schwartz – The New York Giants are preparing to close out their first training camp under head coach John Harbaugh, with the team’s demanding summer schedule drawing significant attention.
Harbaugh promised when he took the job that the Giants would be doing “football, all the time, every day,” and the numbers suggest he has delivered. New York held 21 practices during camp, compared with 15 during the same period last year under Brian Daboll. Twelve of Harbaugh’s sessions lasted more than two hours, compared with just four under Daboll.
The Giants practiced on 10 of their 11 days in West Virginia and held six consecutive practices during the second week. Despite the heavy workload, the team largely avoided major injuries until wide receiver Calvin Austin suffered a non-contact torn ACL earlier this week.
Harbaugh has also placed a strong emphasis on situational football, repeatedly practicing late-game situations, end-of-half scenarios and short-yardage plays. The Giants have prepared for everything from pregame routines to victory formations.
Dart finds a favorite target
Quarterback Jaxson Dart’s connection with tight end Isaiah Likely was one of the highlights of camp. Likely caught 44 passes from Dart during 11-on-11 team periods, far more than any other Giants receiver.
Darnell Mooney ranked second with 18 catches, followed by Calvin Austin and Theo Johnson with 17 each.
Dart completed 188 of 276 passes, a 68.1 percent completion rate, with seven interceptions. Overall, Giants quarterbacks attempted 617 passes in 11-on-11 periods this summer, up significantly from 463 last year.
Zvada takes control of kicking battle
Rookie kicker Dominic Zvada also strengthened his position during camp. He converted 81 of 90 field-goal attempts, an impressive 90 percent success rate, while Ben Sauls made 67 of 87 attempts.
Both kickers demonstrated the ability to hit from beyond 60 yards, but Zvada’s consistency and leg strength have made him the clear favorite to win the job.
Roster decisions ahead
Special teams are expected to play a major role in the final roster decisions. Players including Micah McFadden, Jack Kelly, Zaire Barnes, Caleb Murphy and Elijah Campbell have received extensive work on the Giants’ core special-teams units.
Following Austin’s injury, Braxton Berrios appears positioned to handle punt-return duties. The Giants could also enter the season with four running backs: Cam Skattebo, Devin Singletary, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Najee Harris.
The Giants have also been active in the trade market, sending guard Daniel Faalele to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2027 sixth-round pick and Josh Ezeudu to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2028 seventh-round selection.
As the regular season approaches, defensive tackle remains a potential area for reinforcement. The Giants hold the fifth position in the waiver order, giving them an opportunity to add young talent released by other teams.
The big question now is whether Harbaugh’s demanding training camp will translate into results. The Giants have lost their last three season openers by a combined 89-12 score, making a strong start particularly important in Harbaugh’s first season.
