3 NY Giants who locked up a roster spot in win over Lions

The NY Giants kicked off their preseason schedule with a solid 14-3 victory over the Detroit Lions at a rainy MetLife Stadium. The win gave the fanbase a lot of hope and some confidence for the upcoming 2024 season.

While a lot of people only look at preseason games as a fancy practice, the games mean a lot for the players who are on the roster bubbles and are fighting for their professional lives. Unlike the Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns-type players with guaranteed contracts and roster spots, there’s that 90th player who is just hoping to make the team. Sometimes, there is always that Victor Cruz-type lurking out there.

For some of the Giants players, looking good in a preseason win, especially against the team that was a half away from playing in the Super Bowl back in February, makes an even better impression on the coaching staff as well. The Giants had two very physical days of joint practices with the Lions, so much that the several squabbles they had with them on the field cost them $200,000 in the checkbook.

While the Giants will feel less stressed about writing out that check to the league office for the fights that took place, three players will probably feel even less stressed about their roster spot heading into the rest of camp and the preseason, as they should feel confident about it moving forward. Which Giants players? Let’s look at them.

Giants LB Dyontae Johnson

Even before the game against Detroit was played, many had felt that Johnson was having such a strong camp and that he could be challenging Micah McFadden for his starting spot to play alongside Bobby Okereke as the second middle linebacker in the Giants defense.

While McFadden was dealing with an ankle issue that kept him out of practice, Johnson used that time to make himself stand out. Johnson then took the opportunity in the game against the Lions to really make his case and all but solidify a 53-man roster spot for himself.

Pro Football Focus had Johnson finishing with a strong game, as he came away with a 74.8 total defensive grade, which was the fifth highest of the Giants players on defense. Johnson finished with four tackles, two solo and two for a loss, to go along with the one sack.

Johnson also had three total pressures and seemed to be all over the field when he was in the game. McFadden will more than likely be the starter for Week 1 as the second linebacker, but Johnson is playing well enough to where he’s likely going to be on the team and challenging for a lot more playing time in the 2024 season. He did suffer an ankle sprain and is 'week to week' per Jordan Raanan, which is rough. Still we think he'll be around to take on the Vikings.