The last time the New York Giants participated in a joint practice with another NFL team (the Detroit Lions) two weeks ago, the action ended early due to excessive fighting.
On Wednesday, the Giants travel to Florham Park to practice against the Jets, who they will face in their final preseason game on Saturday night.
Head coach Brian Daboll was asked what he plans to do to cut down on the fighting.
“Talk about it again,” he said. “We don’t want to fight.”
Asked what he wants to accomplish on Wednesday, Daboll, who has a load of roster decisions to make and a very short time to make them, plans on his team putting their best foot forward.
“The same thing that we did against Detroit. Go out there and practice against another team. Let the 1s get a lot of reps with the 1s. So, you’re practicing against another team. Continue the evaluation process,” Daboll said. “So, you don’t have to get on an airplane to do it. So, it’s good.”
Daboll said he would make the decision later in the week whether his starters would play in Saturday’s preseason game. Final roster cuts are due next Tuesday, so he’s likely going to want to take another long look at the reserves.
One matchup that onlookers are gearing up for is Jets All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner versus the Giants’ prized rookie wideout, Malik Nabers.
“He’s obviously already making a name for himself in the area with how he’s been practicing,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said of Nabers. “Credit to him.”
“Another heck of a player,” Daboll said of Gardner. “Malik hasn’t played in an NFL game yet. So, he’s had training camp, and he’s done well with everything we’ve asked him to do. But certainly, when you’re playing against a guy of that caliber, Sauce’s caliber, it’ll be good competition.”
Nabers was not targeted in the Giants’ first preseason game against the Lions but caught four passes for 54 yards last week in Houston.
Gardner did not dress for either of the Jets’ preseason games.
