Giants' Gray Wins PFF's Player of the Game vs. Lions

The New York Giants won their first preseason game at home against the Detroit Lions, outlasting the wind and the rain for a 14-3 win. The victory put a stamp on an intense week of joint practices, skirmishes, and unanswered questions that came before the season’s first game action. New York came away mostly healthy , too, a win in and of itself.

While the win won’t count for much, every summer exhibition is a stage for players fighting for bigger roles to impress the coaching staff. Perhaps no player did more on Thursday in that regard than running back Eric Gray .

Scoring the game’s only two touchdowns, Gray re-established himself as a legitimate competitor for the RB2 role on New York’s depth chart and has earned the spotlight for Saturday’s affair against the Houston Texans.

For his efforts, he was named the player of the game by Pro Football Focus .

“The aforementioned Gray put together an electric performance during his time on the field, finishing with four carries for 52 yards and two touchdowns —most of which came on an impressive 48-yard touchdown run in the second quarter — in addition to four receptions for 46 yards and a forced missed tackle,” PFF wrote. “The touchdown run may get the most attention, but Gray's receiving ability could be the key to him earning a real role in New York's offense.”

The touchdown run was the biggest play of the night and one of the game’s brightest displays of high-end athleticism. The cut in open field erased the angle of the incoming Lions defender and Gray got to show off his long speed and agility on the run.

Gray’s two quickest routes to playing time are explosive plays and passing down prowess. The long run helped cement what New York already knew about its back and could serve as a reason to give him some more run while spelling Singletary. Catching all four targets, including one one further downfield on a wheel route, adds credibility to his ability in the passing game.

Related: What Did Giants Learn About Gray, Tracy in Preseason Opener?

“Given how New York deployed its running backs Thursday night, the 2023 fifth-rounder appears to be behind Singletary and Tracy on New York's depth chart; however, Thursday night's performance keeps him in the running for the primary backup running back gig,” PFF added.

It will be interesting to monitor how his usage compares to Tracy’s against Houston and if it signifies any depth chart movement. Regardless, Gray’s impressive showing was a step in the right direction for an offense in need of chunk gains.