The New York Giants opened up their three-week preseason campaign with a low-scoring loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
The first taste of semi-real Giants football under head coach John Harbaugh revealed deeper insights into the current state of the roster.
But before we dive into the deeper takeaways from this game, let's fire off a few knee-jerk reactions to New York's narrow loss.
Instant takeaways from Giants' up-and-down performance in the preseason opener
1. Jaxson Dart's offseason growing pains are real. The second-year quarterback had some nice throws in his limited playing time, but he seemed to panic when his first read wasn't open. More time in Matt Nagy's system should make him more comfortable progressing through his reads.
2. Devin Singletary is one of the biggest winners of the day. He had a solid run up the middle during New York's second offensive drive, then took a screen pass on third down and long for an explosive gain of 40 yards. Singletary is slamming the door shut on the Giants' battle for the third running back spot.
3. Two of the most important defensive players on the roster weren't on the field today, and it showed. Tremaine Edmunds and D.J. Reader will be crucial in Big Blue's efforts to fix the run defense. Without them in the game, the Vikings were able to pick up chunks of yardage on the ground.
4. Malachi Fields is ready for a significant role in the offense. His touchdown may have been the highlight of the day for Big Blue, as he rose up for a contested catch in the end zone over a Vikings defender. He stayed on the field with the second team, making a couple more nice plays. Expect Fields to continue working in with the first-team offense.
5. After a quiet first season in New York, Chauncey Golston is ready to bounce back. He made a few plays in the backfield, including a tackle for loss on an outside run and a quick pressure that caused a J.J. McCarthy incompletion.
6. Rookie linebacker Jack Kelly is a Swiss Army Knife in Dennard Wilson's defense. He made plays in coverage, in run fits, and as a blitzer. Kelly's role may be limited, especially early in the season, but he can wear different hats for Wilson when needed.
7. Odell Beckham Jr. is still Odell Beckham Jr. The veteran receiver didn't work in with the first-team offense, but he consistently got open once he got onto the field. He can be the reliable backup that the Giants' receiver room lacked in 2025.
8. Cornerback Korie Black is pushing for a roster spot in a crowded Giants secondary. He had a nice pass deflection on a vertical route down the sideline in the second half. If he can clean up some of his special teams work, he could steal a place in the final 53.
9. Brandon Allen left no question about how many quarterbacks will be on the final roster. With two interceptions in the second half, he played his way out of the picture. Dart and Jameis Winston should be the only QBs sticking around.
10. Especially early in the game, Nagy used more pre-snap motion on offense than Giants fans are used to seeing. New York used motion at the lowest rate in the NFL last year. It looks like Nagy is ready to lean into the growing trend.
11. Dalen Cambre isn't letting the fight for the final receiver spot on the roster end. He made a couple of key plays in the second half, presenting his quarterback with a reliable option and picking up yards after the catch.
12. The Giants are clearly focused on establishing the run under Harbaugh. Especially on the first two drives, they called run plays on nearly every first down. The intended identity of physicality on offense is easy to see.
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