The New York Giants’ preseason opener didn’t just spotlight rookies like Marcus Mbow and Turbo Miller, it may have shifted the balance in one of the team’s most overlooked training camp battles.
Special teams is often an area that goes overlooked, as camp hype tends to focus on the offense and defense, especially in the case of skill position players and highly-touted draft picks. But those aren’t the only players vying for a spot on Big Blue’s 53-man roster
Not everyone is cut out to be an offensive or defensive game-changer, but special teams is where the unsung heroes go. Countless players have made a career of it — think Devin Hester, Matthew Slater, and obviously, kickers and punters. At the bottom of New York’s receiver room, special teams impact might just be the deciding factor in whether Gunner Olszewski or Dalen Cambre is suiting up for Week 1.
Gunner Olszewski’s strong offensive day is giving him the upper hand
After Saturday in Buffalo, Olszewski took the lead. In the Giants’ preseason opener, Olszewski caught five passes for 28 yards and a touchdown, which came on a seven-yard pass from Jameis Winston, while Cambre amassed no receptions.
The 28-year-old last played in the NFL back in 2023, where he appeared in 10 games as a Giant, fumbling twice. But he was brought back after Bryce Ford-Wheaton tore his Achilles.
His lone touchdown in New York came on an electric 94-yard punt return touchdown against the Rams in December of 2023 on a play that should have tied the game, but the Giants botched the two-point conversion and missed a go-ahead field goal, losing 26-25.
The All-Pro is best known for his time in New England, where he emerged as one of the NFL’s premier return men despite going undrafted out of Bemidji State. He’s got the pedigree, but his competition has the upside.
Cambre was signed by the G-Men as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft, just like Beaux Collins, who is in line to survive summer cuts. He’s shown flashes throughout camp, but did not make enough of an impact against the Bills.
Across five seasons at Louisiana, the 24-year-old caught just 10 passes for 123 yards, but the Giants took a chance on his 4.43 speed despite his lack of college production. The Louisiana native had a prime opportunity to make his mark this summer following Ford-Wheaton’s season-ending injury, but has instead been overshadowed by Collins and Montrell Washington.
With just two preseason games left, the race isn’t over. But Olszewski’s offensive production just might give him the inside track for a job that was supposed to be decided by special teams prowess.