GIANTS: There are quite a few unsettled positions for the Giants, including in the secondary. Deonte Banks will start on one side, but there’s still a battle for the other outside CB spot between Cor’Dale Flott and Nick McCloud, although Flott is dealing with a quad injury that kept him out last week, and McCloud was pretty much done after the first quarter. It’s a good sign for the Giants that Dru Phillips is practicing again; his absence with an ankle injury hurt the rotation, with Isaiah Simmons being kicked into the slot position out of need. How the bottom of the CB depth chart shakes out is anyone’s guess, with Tre Hawkins, Tre Herndon, Darnay Holmes and David Long possibly all in the mix. Safety appears more settled, but it’s hardly a deep group. There’s a lot to work through here prior to Week 1.
JETS: The annual New York-New York preseason finale could play out as a last audition for several deep reserves, with an interesting situation developing at cornerback. The top of the depth chart is settled, with Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II. But roles and roster spots would appear to be up for grabs thereafter. Fifth-rounder Qwan’tez Stiggers has looked the part and is playing himself into some kind of role, it appears, displaying a fearless style on defense and special teams. Brandin Echols is a special-teams standout and likely to make the roster, but his participation on defense has waned significantly since he started 14 games in 2021. Is the door open for converted safety Jarrick Bernard-Converse to earn a role? Getting hurt against the Panthers didn’t help his cause. Or can Brandon Codrington, who adds return ability, squeeze his way onto the team?
