Giants' Schmitz Returning to Practice

AUG 11 – SCHMITZ BACK – The New York Giants got healthier on Sunday, activating offensive tackle Evan Neal off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List.

While that demanded an official roster move, New York’s second instance of good news did not. Center John Michael Schmitz is returning to practice.

Per Art Stapleton , head coach Brian Daboll revealed that Schmtiz would return to practice, though it’s unlikely he sees time in team drills right away. He’ll be doing individual drills to best ramp up while monitoring his shoulder injury that kept him out to this point.

While Schmitz is expected to start at center for New York this year, his spot shouldn’t be seen as iron clad. Like Neal, Schmitz struggled mightily in 2023, and after the signing of interior lineman Greg Van Roten, the Giants can feel more comfortable about their depth up front.

Van Roten will see time at guard, but his versatility could come in handy if Schmitz struggles at camp and into the season.

AUG 10 – RODGERS RAMP UP – The New York Giants played their first preseason game on Thursday, beginning their summer circuit that will end on Aug. 24 against the New York Jets.

While the Jets begin their preseason on Saturday, they’ll do so without quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He’s healthy, nearly a year removed from his Achilles tear, but New York is taking every precaution. However, the Jets generally like to play their starters in the final preseason game.

Recently, head coach Robert Saleh spoke about that possibility.

“We haven’t had final decisions yet at all with regards to the third game,” Saleh said, via SNY. “You guys know me, the third game is usually when we like to play our guys and depending on how today went, how Saturday goes, and next week’s work with the Panthers and the following week with the Giants, I’ll make that decision.”

On whether or not that meant there’s a chance he lets Rodgers play, Saleh was brief, but seemingly open-minded.

“Yeah.”

Last year, Rodgers played well against the Giants, including a moment of trash talk with defensive lineman Jihad Ward. New York will have to wait and see if some exhibition game revenge is in store.

AUG 9 – ROURKE OFF THE BOARD – On Thursday, the New York Giants beat the Detroit Lions 14-3 to win their preseason opener.

In the process, they temporarily lost backup quarterback Drew Lock, who started the exhibition festivities. The quarterback went down with an oblique strain and hip pointer ( per Jordan Raanan ). Missing anything more than a few weeks would be unexpected.

Nevertheless, that left Tommy DeVito and Daniel Jones as the only quarterbacks on the roster, and opened the door for a short-term free agent signing.

Quarterback Nathan Rourke, who was with the Giants earlier in camp, figured to be an option – at least for those of us not up to date on the whereabouts of free agent quarterbacks. As it turns out, Rourke signed with the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 4.

New York waived Rourke to let him find a better opportunity elsewhere, though the Falcons don’t present as such on paper. With the Giants needing a warm body for practice this week and the upcoming preseason contest, it wouldn’t be too surprising if he made his way back. For now, though, he remains off the board, forcing the Giants to look elsewhere.

AUG 6 – COLOR RUSH CANCELED – The New York Giants are wearing their “Century Red” uniforms for Week 1’s season-opening festivities against the Minnesota Vikings.

It will come at a cost.

Teams are only allowed a certain number of uniforms, and the Giants will be wearing four different jerseys this year.

The beloved white color rush uniforms didn’t make the cut .

It’s unclear whether it’s a one-year hiatus in favor of the 100th anniversary jerseys or a more permanent pivot. But for the 2024 season, New York will go without arguably its best uniform. It was most recently worn in Week 6’s loss against the Buffalo Bills last season.

AUG 4 – ELI’S LATEST PASS – The city-wide discourse between New York Giants fans being split among the New York Mets and Yankees continued on Sunday when the New York Yankees helped the Giants celebrate their 100th anniversary.

Before their game against the Toronto Blue Jays, former Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

It may have sailed a little high, but Manning kept the velocity his older brother current in the later stages of his career.

You can watch the pitch here .

To commemorate the anniversary, New York also gave away Manning bobbleheads , with the quarterback in a Yankees uniform.

AUG 2 – JONESING FOR MADDEN – If you’re a fan of the New York Giants and the Madden NFL franchise, there’s a good chance you’ll dabble into franchise mode to take the reins of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.

But after quarterback Daniel Jones’ ratings were officially released, we have a feeling you might be simulating ahead to the NFL Draft.

EA Sports rolled out its quarterback overalls on Friday, and in doing so revealed that Jones would be a mere 71 overall, on a scale to 99.

Related: Giants' Front Seven Depth Stands Out in Preseason Win Over Lions

With Jones’ mediocre physical tools – he is buoyed by speed (87) but will likely lack arm strength and accuracy attributes – a high overall can be hard to achieve. But at a 71, he’s tied for the 34th-best quarterback in the game.

That puts him on the same level as backup quarterback Desmond Ridder and rookies Bo Nix and J.J. McCarthy.

Other Giants passers include Drew Lock (64) and Tommy DeVito (61).

AUG 2 – WHO’S WILSON – On Thursday, the New York Giants made perhaps their weirdest move of the offseason.

According to Aaron Wilson , the Giants worked out former Washington State offensive lineman Jack Wilson.

Wilson was an undrafted free agent, but his story doesn’t stop there.

Wilson last appeared in a game in 2022, but barely saw much action at all. According to his school bio , the vast majority of snaps came on special teams – particularly blocking on field goals. That’s … about it. He didn’t play in the team’s bowl game that season, either, because he was playing basketball for the university. Spoiler alert, he didn’t get much playing time there as well.

How does a college athletics afterthought get the attention of an NFL organization? Being 6-foot-11, 338 pounds certainly helps.

Wilson is the longest of long shots and an incredible story. Perhaps New York could make something of his gargantuan frame, but it’s best to temper expectations until there’s a transaction next to his name.