For months, the Giants’ quarterback state of affairs has dominated the dialogue.
How lengthy will Russell Wilson stay the starter?
How shut is Jaxson Dart to being prepared?
The place does Jameis Winston match into the plan?
These are the questions head coach Brian Daboll and normal supervisor Joe Schoen should reply as they try to stability successful now with making ready for the long run.
However there are many questions involving the Giants’ non-quarterbacks, too.
Because the Giants start a pivotal season, listed here are a number of the different storylines going into Week 1 at Washington.
HOW HEALTHY IS MALIK NABERS?
Malik Nabers endured his share of damage considerations this offseason.
A toe damage that dates again to his faculty days at LSU stored the star huge receiver out of spring practices.
He left a July follow after a tough fall on his shoulder.
And a again concern prevented Nabers from showing in preseason video games and value him practically two weeks of follow, too.
However Nabers says the Giants had been simply taking part in it secure and that he shall be “ready to roll” as soon as the true video games begin. He described the again ailment as a “minor thing.”
“I feel good,” Nabers stated Wednesday. “I know it’s been a little ride, but right now, I feel good.”
Nabers, 22, is the focus of the Giants’ offense after recording 109 catches for 1,204 yards and 7 touchdowns in 15 video games as a rookie final season.
For the entire questions surrounding the Giants’ quarterback room, Nabers is likely to be probably the most indispensable piece of an offense that — outdoors of fourth-round rookie operating again Cam Skattebo — didn’t add a major new skill-position participant within the offseason.
“I think my teammates, they want me to voice my opinions,” Nabers stated. “They feel like I’m a key factor on this football team … so [I am] just speaking out, trying to get the team going, or if I see anything, just saying something. That just goes to show how much my teammates believe in me.”
WHAT ABOUT DEXTER LAWRENCE AND ANDREW THOMAS?
It was a equally sparse spring and summer season for Lawrence, the Giants’ defensive anchor, who was restricted all through offseason practices as he labored again from the season-ending dislocated left elbow that he suffered on Nov. 28.
The star defensive sort out has been growing his workload not too long ago in anticipation of Week 1, however Lawrence was nonetheless moving into soccer form as he sat out of all three preseason video games.
“I’m where I’m supposed to be. That’s just what I can say about that,” Lawrence, 27, stated on Aug 12. “It’s just a process of me and my elbow. It’s a continual process.”
Lawrence was a second-team All-Professional choice final season, when he recorded a career-high 9.0 sacks in 12 video games.
There’s additionally uncertainty surrounding Thomas, the Giants’ standout left sort out, who was activated from the bodily unable to carry out checklist on Aug. 19 after present process surgical procedure for a Lisfranc (midfoot) damage in October.
After passing his bodily and returning to follow, Thomas couldn’t decide to taking part in in Week 1.
“I can’t really predict that right now,” Thomas, 26, stated. “I just see the progress I’ve made the last few weeks. I don’t know where we’ll end up, but I’m doing everything I can do to be back.”
The Giants’ offensive line goes as Thomas does, making his availability paramount.
CAN ABDUL CARTER LIVE UP TO THE HYPE?
Carter, the No. 3 total decide in April’s draft, earned rave critiques all through the offseason, demonstrating his dominance as an edge rusher and a capability to line up at totally different positions.
That has allowed the Giants to dream a few dominant defensive entrance that includes Lawrence within the center and linebackers Carter, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux racing one another to the quarterback.
“Everybody has their job to do, so wherever I’m at, wherever I’m lined up, I’m doing my own job,” Carter stated this month.
Traditionally, the Giants have been at their finest once they make use of a mess of go rushers, and that has an opportunity to turn out to be their id as soon as once more.
And whereas Carter instructions probably the most consideration, he’s one among a number of vital newcomers on a revamped protection that additionally added cornerback Paulson Adebo and security Jevon Holland on big-money contracts.
That new-look protection shall be examined straight away, with the Giants set to face the high-powered offenses of the Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers within the first 4 weeks.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE NFC EAST?
The Commanders resolved their drawn-out offseason drama final week once they agreed to a three-year, $96 million contract extension with huge receiver Terry McLaurin, ending his hold-in.
However the Cowboys are but to do the identical with disgruntled go rusher Micah Parsons, who requested a commerce final month and has been holding in as he pursues a brand new deal.
Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones advised Michael Irvin he provided Parsons a contract that “would’ve made him the highest-paid guaranteed player other than a quarterback in the NFL.”
However the state of affairs appears no nearer to a decision because the Cowboys close to their season opener in Philadelphia on Thursday. The Giants are set to go to the Cowboys in Week 2.
That’s the greatest NFC East storyline, particularly because the Cowboys attempt to bounce again from a 7-10 season.
However there’s additionally the Philadelphia Eagles making an attempt to repeat as Tremendous Bowl champions and the Commanders aiming to take one other step after quarterback Jayden Daniels led them to the NFC Championship Sport as a rookie.
CAN THE GIANTS MAKE PROGRESS?
That’s finally the most important query for a Giants workforce that went 3-14 final yr and whose head coach and normal supervisor could possibly be on the new seat.
Growing Dart is vital, however co-owner John Mara made it clear that he needs to see present-day enchancment, too, after back-to-back shedding seasons.
Because the Giants navigate that balancing act, the Jets try an analogous turnaround, albeit with a lot much less consideration.
Gone is Aaron Rodgers and every thing that got here with him, and right here now’s a brand new regime led by no-nonsense head coach Aaron Glenn.
The Jets function an analogous construction because the Giants, with a talent-laden protection and an ascendant No. 1 receiver in Garrett Wilson. Their new quarterback, Justin Fields, was a teammate of Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh final yr.
It is going to be fascinating to see which workforce that calls MetLife Stadium dwelling makes better strides in 2025.
