NY Giants training camp: Daniel Jones, offense shine before punches fly

Daniel Jones and the offense had their best practice of NY Giants training camp, but a Kenny Golladay injury and brawl stole the show

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — This was what the NY Giants hoped to see from Daniel Jones in his third NFL season.

Tuesday’s practice was the first in full pads for the Giants during this summer’s training camp, and it was far and away Jones’ most impressive.

During a full-team 11-on-11 period, Jones didn’t toss an incompletion. Earlier, Jones made a really athletic throw on the run, before throwing across his body to tight end Evan Engram, who made a nice catch in traffic.

Jones wasn’t the only offensive player to standout, as after fumbling on the first snap of 11-on-11 drills, running back Devontae Booker had a really nice run.

Once again, wide receiver Sterling Shepard rose above the rest of the receiving corps, making some nice receptions and runs after the catch on rocket-screens from Jones along the perimeter.

The NY Giants are betting this season on Jones making a major leap in his third season, especially after investing in adding wide receiver Kenny Golladay, first-round pick Kadarius Toney, and the anticipated return of star running back Saquon Barkley to Jones’ supporting cast. This was the first time this summer that the offense seemed to have a rhythm.

Jones looked unflappable out there throughout the practice.

Unfortunately for Jones, the practice was cut short by a full-team brawl — more on that later, but this was the type of session that if built on throughout the rest of the summer could set the stage for a breakout campaign for the young quarterback.

Here are six key takeaways from Tuesday’s NY Giants training camp practice:

Kenny Golladay leaves with an injury

While the NY Giants’ offense very clearly won the day, it wasn’t all good news.

During the first play of a seven-on-seven period, Jones hit Golladay with a perfectly thrown pass in traffic, but just as linebacker Tae Crowder stripped the ball away Golladay immediately grabbed his hamstring before hobbling off the field and seeking attention from the medical staff.

Golladay walked back inside shortly thereafter with a team trainer.

The injury is unfortunate on multiple fronts; of course, of Golladay is forced to miss any significant time, that is a significant blow to what the NY Giants have designs on becoming offensively this season. But, Tuesday it seemed Jones and Golladay were beginning to build some chemistry, which clearly has been lacking through the first week of camp.

Any missed practice time for the quarterback-receiver duo could hamper that.

As of Tuesday afternoon, there is no update on Golladay’s injury.

David Sills makes a statement

Jones and Shepard weren’t the only battery putting on a show Tuesday.

NY Giants backup quarterback Mike Glennon has clearly found a favorite target in wide receiver David Sills, who made a strong case to stick on the 53-man roster Tuesday.

Sills made a leaping acrobatic catch in the back of the end zone during an 11-on-11 red-zone period for a touchdown that launched a massive celebration from the offense, and later slid to haul in a pass from Glennon during seven-on-sevens.

Last season, Sills didn’t appear in a game for the NY Giants, but if he builds on Tuesday’s practice, he could make a strong case to not only make the roster this summer but could also benefit from any time Golladay misses due to injury.

Riley Dixon plants his flag in punter competition

To the extend that there is any competition for the NY Giants’ punter job between Riley Dixon and Ryan Santoso this summer, Dixon took a step towards securing his spot Tuesday.

Midway through practice during a special teams period, Dixon launched a punt that stopped flat between the goal line and the one-yard line. Just how they draw it up.

Dixon seemed to regress a bit last season, which may have opened the door for Santoso, but Tuesday was a step in the right direction for Dixon.

Kadarius Toney makes his debut off COVID-19/reserve list

The NY Giants got their first look at first-round rookie wide receiver Kadarius Toney Tuesday, as he came off the COVID-19/reserve list and onto the field for the first time.

After dropping his first target from Jones early on, Toney settled in and did a nice job during the drills he participated in and even fielded punts during a special teams period. Toney’s explosiveness and speed could be a real asset on punt and kickoff returns as a rookie.

Jones said afterwards that he was encouraged seeing Toney out on the field.

"“It’s good to see him out there,” Jones said. “We’ll keep working. He’s a talented guy. He can make a lot of plays. I think you see his athleticism, his twitch, and his quickness.”"

"Next: Takeaway No. 6"

Punches fly, Joe Judge sends clear message

Ultimately, Tuesday’s practice was cut short due to a massive full-team fight after safety Logan Ryan hit Evan Engram from behind and both the full offense and defense converged, with Jones winding up at the bottom of the pile.

Clearly, NY Giants head coach Joe Judge was not thrilled with his team, and after ripping into his players with an expletive-laden message, took it a step further by sending the whole team on multiple 100-yard gassers with sets of 10 pushups in between.

Afterwards, Ryan said he hoped that the incident would bring the team together and foster chemistry.

"“We’re coming out to compete,” Ryan said. “We have respect for each other, but we’re going to protect our sides. If our nucleus, and our key leaders are together, the locker room will follow. Just like the great defensive linemen, linebackers, and leaders of the past, if you don’t think they had chippiness or grime about them, we play in New Jersey, man. There’s going to be chippiness, but we leave it between the lines. I’ll take a team like that. “I’ll take a team like that every single day. I told the secondary, I’m their leader, I’m going to protect them every single day. If I do something wrong on a play, I’ll take my punishment like a man, but, there’s no bad-blood. Me and Evan are close, he’s a great player, he’s a tough tight end to cover, but I’m going to make it the hardest day of his life every single day we’re out there. They’re making me better, too.”"

Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com