EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Versatile veteran Landon Collins is returning to the New York Giants, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.
Collins is being signed to the team’s practice squad to start, with the expectation that he could be used in a variety of roles in coordinator Wink Martindale’s aggressive defense.
The Giants’ second-round pick in 2015 has played both safety and, in recent years, linebacker. He spent the previous three seasons in Washington.
Collins’ career started promisingly for the Giants. He finished third in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting in the 2016 season, when he had 125 tackles, 4.0 sacks and 5 interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown the last time New York played in London.
The Giants (3-1) return to London this week and will play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Collins is expected to meet the Giants overseas, a source confirmed to ESPN.
NFL reporter Josina Anderson first reported that Collins and the Giants were finalizing a deal.
New York has now added veteran linebackers Jaylon Smith, A.J. Klein and Collins in recent weeks. Smith was elevated to the active roster for Sunday’s 20-12 win over the Chicago Bears and had six tackles. Klein was signed Thursday off the Giants practice squad, a source told ESPN, and Collins will take his spot.
Collins had been a free agent after not being able to agree on a restructured contract with the Commanders in the offseason.
Washington signed Collins to a six-year contract worth $84 million in the 2019 offseason after four seasons with the Giants. He had three years left on his contract at the time of his release. Washington altered Collins’ role early last season, using him in a hybrid safety/linebacker role. That change coincided with improved play by the Commanders’ defense. He finished last season with 81 tackles, 2 interceptions and 3 sacks.
Injuries disrupted his last two seasons with Washington. He ruptured an Achilles in Week 7 of 2020, and he missed four games with injuries last season. He was placed on injured reserve for the final three games because of a foot injury.
Collins, who turned 28 in January, made three Pro Bowls with the Giants and was a first-team All Pro in 2016. He did not make a Pro Bowl with Washington.
In seven seasons, Collins has 11 interceptions, 10 sacks, 676 tackles and 7 forced fumbles.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and John Keim contributed to this report.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants wide receiver Kenny Golladay didn’t exactly like coach Brian Daboll’s decision to play him for just two snaps in Sunday’s 19-16 win over the Carolina Panthers.
“Of course I don’t really agree with it. Or like it,” Golladay, who was talking to the media for the first time since the game, said Wednesday. “But I can only control what I can control, which is to come to work every day.”
Golladay, the Giants’ prized free agent acquisition in 2021, did not see this coming. He said everyone in the organization has been telling him that he’s been a pro and doing things the right way.
It makes this all quite confusing to Golladay.
“I should be playing regardless,” he said. “That’s a fact.”
Golladay, 28, was supposed to be the Giants’ No. 1 receiver when he was signed by the previous regime last offseason. He inked a four-year, $72 million deal and is getting paid $18 million this season.
But Golladay had a rough first year with the team in which he was hampered by injury and didn’t score a touchdown. He had a procedure that kept him out this spring.
The signs were actually on the wall this summer when — despite consistently being on the field — Golladay looked compromised by the string of injuries. He surprisingly was one of the few veterans to play in the preseason finale, and he caught two passes for 22 yards in 42 snaps (most among Giants wide receivers) in the season-opening win over the Tennessee Titans.
Daboll said he told Golladay midway through last week that he was going with David Sills V over him against the Panthers. Sills went into the contest with two career catches for 17 yards. He is making $825,000 this season.
Golladay has 222 receptions for 3,611 yards and 21 career touchdowns. He led all receivers in 2019 with 11 receiving scores. But it’s not beyond reason to think he’s lost a step. Golladay has two touchdown receptions and less than 900 yards receiving in the two-plus seasons since.
The veteran receiver was asked about requesting a change of scenery after being benched for most of Sunday’s game.
“We’re going to see how it goes. Yeah, we’re going to see how it goes,” Golladay said. “I came here to play. I’m pretty sure they’re also paying me to play. I guess they want to see more or get whatever situated on their end. I just keep doing what I got to do as far as coming in each day.”
It seems unlikely that Golladay can be moved at this point, in part because of the lack of production and his contract. He is still owed $11.6 million in base salary for the remainder of this season and another $4.5 million next year.
It’s not a problem to keep him around for now. Daboll and several Giants players told ESPN he has handled it like a pro.
“It is what it is. It’s a business,” Golladay said. “I’m not here to be friends with coaches. They’re just co-workers to me.”
Daboll has been consistent about saying the wide receiver position is an open competition, and he means business. Richie James leads the Giants with 10 catches and 110 yards receiving.
James was an offseason acquisition who many believed was on the roster bubble. Sills earned his way onto the team.
Daboll has used the same line about competition from the start. He took a similar stance back when Golladay was one of the few veterans to play in the third and final preseason game. It was also his reasoning behind last year’s first-round pick, Kadarius Toney, playing only seven snaps in the opener and Golladay barely getting on the field against the Panthers.
“It’s a continual competition at receiver. I’ve said it since when? I’m not being a jerk, I’ve said it since the middle of camp, right?” Daboll said on Sunday. “It hasn’t changed. It’s going to be a continual competition.”
He added on Monday: “Again, whether it’s the highest-paid player, the lowest-paid player, the highest draft pick, an undrafted free agent — we’re going to go out there and let the guys compete it out. One week doesn’t necessarily mean this is what’s going to happen the next week. I think everybody understands what we are trying to do as an organization in terms of continuing to get better, competing for spots, working as hard as you can work.”
Daboll isn’t playing favorites based on salary or draft status, and it has caught the attention of his team.
“It’s rare, but Coach has always told us he doesn’t care where you got drafted first round, second round, undrafted. He’s about what he talks about,” veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard said.
Shepard has played the most snaps (102) of any Giants wide receiver so far this season. He’s coming off a torn Achilles suffered last season. Sills is second with 91.
If Golladay has a role this season, it’s going to have to be earned, not given based on his past accomplishments. This new regime isn’t tied to Golladay, who was the Lions’ third-round pick in 2017.
Golladay was optimistic about how Wednesday’s practice went. He said he believes his role this week is probably going to be a little different.
The Giants (2-0) could need him more on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys. Toney did not participate in Wednesday’s practice because of a hamstring injury that continues to linger.
It was no laughing matter to see Kadarius Toney back on the practice field.
Toney wore a facemask visor with a print of the Haha tattoo associated with Jared Leto’s Joker character in the “Suicide Squad” during Giants practice Friday. The second-year wide receiver also is a rapper who goes by the artist name “Yung Joka.”
Toney, who mostly treats Yung Joka as a separate persona from his football identity as a first-round draft pick, released his latest album “Warrior 3” in the offseason, and the Giants played a track during a training camp practice. PristineAuction.com once sold an authenticated Toney-autographed Joker figurine with his tagline – “Why so serious?” – for $128.99, records show.
Kadarius Toney’s sun visor has the words, “Ha Ha,” written on it during practice at the Giants training facility in East Rutherford.Charles Wenzelberg/New York PostKadarius Toney answers questions from reporters.Noah K. Murray/New York Post
It’s not the first time that Toney has created a buzz with an unusual visor. He paired a Louis Vuitton-logoed visor with his Joker-themed mouth guard during the first week of training camp, and a photo circulated by the Giants official Twitter account received nearly 3,000 likes.
While specialized visors are fun in practice, NFL rules still strictly govern usage in games, so Toney must put the visor back on the shelf. For years only clear visors were allowed, though now, through a partnership with Oakley, players are allowed to wear visors with a pinkish-blue hue.
Toney was a limited practice participant Friday and is questionable to play Sunday after he showed up on the injury report (hamstring). He originally tweaked his hamstring last month, returned to practice after preseason games were over and played seven snaps in Week 1, but then the hamstring “tightened up” and forced Toney out of certain team periods of Thursday’s practice, according to Giants head coach Brian Daboll.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants second-year wide receiver Kadarius Toney said he wasn’t disappointed to play just seven snaps in a 21-20 season-opening win at the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. His team won, and ultimately it wasn’t his decision.
“I get paid to play, not coach,” Toney said Wednesday. “I don’t know what the plan was. At the end of the day, I have to prepare as if I was going and playing every play. I don’t know what else to say.”
Toney saw just two snaps in the first half. The dynamic playmaker still wasn’t a bigger part of the game even after rookie wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson left in the second quarter with a knee injury.
But Toney took the lack of playing time Sunday behind Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, Robinson, David Sills and even Richie James in stride.
“Disappointed in victory? Disappointed in a victory?” he said rhetorically. “You sound crazy.”
How about surprised by the lack of playing time then?
“At the end of the day, I did my job,” Toney said. “I get paid to do one thing. Do my job, bro.”
Coach Brian Daboll has said that Toney was part of several specific packages and plays; the Giants just didn’t get to many of them in the victory. Toney finished with two touches — both on rushes in the second half — for 23 yards.
It made his current standing in the wide receiver room apparent. James, not Toney, stepped into a bigger role when Robinson left the game, and he led the Giants with five receptions on six targets for 59 yards.
“We’ll see what happens this week,” Daboll said Monday. “The guys that were out there, we have confidence in. We have confidence in Kadarius. I think, again, I’ve mentioned this before a couple of weeks ago with our receiver position: It’s a competitive situation. And they’ll be evaluated on a week-to-week basis. So, relative to inactives or playtime or amount of plays, everybody’s got to earn their role. One week it might be a whole game; one week it might be less.
“But Kadarius has done a good job of learning our stuff. I have no concerns about him knowing our information.”
It appears Toney, a first-round pick last year out of Florida, has to earn his playing time. He has not been on the field much since the Giants’ new regime took command.
Toney had a knee procedure earlier this year that kept him out in the spring, and a hamstring problem in training camp cost him some time, as well. It follows a rookie year that was riddled with all kinds of injuries and inconsistency. He dealt with hamstring, ankle, shoulder, quad and abdomen injuries. He also had COVID-19 twice.
At one point last spring, Toney left practice because he was wearing the wrong-sized cleats.
Toney had 39 catches for 420 yards in 10 games as a rookie. The Giants need to see that he’s capable of being available and trustworthy before handing him a bigger role. Toney will need to show them he deserves more playing time by working hard and being on the practice field.
“If that is required, that is what I have to do,” he said. “Everybody knows I had the injury a couple weeks ago why I wasn’t on the field. So I guess it just [has to do] with that. I don’t know what to say.”
Toney, 23, says he’s fine physically at this point. He was a full participant in practice all of last week. He was moving well and without any limitations during Wednesday’s workout.
Toney hasn’t received any major declarations from the coaching staff regarding the lack of playing time Sunday.
“Nothing. It’s more of just we have another game. It’s bigger than one game,” Toney said. “We have a 17-game season. It’s always the mentality to push forward.”
Running back Saquon Barkley believes it will be only a matter of time before Toney is making bigger contributions on the field; he’s too talented not to.
“I talked to him,” said Barkley, a team captain. “It wasn’t really to pump him up. It was all about continuing to work. Continuing to follow up the process. … He’s a very talented individual. I think you guys can see that when the rock is in his hands.
“As he continues to go, I think we’ll see him be involved a little more in the offense and making more plays for us.”
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants lost wide receiver Collin Johnson for the season Wednesday on the same day that veteran Sterling Shepard returned to the practice field.
Johnson tore his Achilles tendon during Wednesday’s practice, per the team. The big receiver (6-foot-6, 220 pounds) out of the University of Texas had been receiving first-team reps in recent weeks at practice with Kadarius Toney and Shepard among those on the sideline.
Coach Brian Daboll had noted earlier in the week that Johnson and fellow wide receiver David Sills were making a strong impression. Johnson started Sunday’s preseason win over the Cincinnati Bengals and had three receptions for 41 yards; Sills had five catches for 56 yards, with most of the damage coming with the first-string offense.
“Collin Johnson, David Sills, they’ve stepped their game up,” Daboll said. “And they’re right in the mix, not just to make a team but to play.”
The Giants’ opener is in 18 days in Tennessee. Toney (right leg), C.J. Board (ribs) and Darius Slayton are also dealing with minor injuries.
Shepard, meanwhile, was making his way back from a torn Achilles suffered last December. He returned to practice for the first time Wednesday since the injury.
“It felt great, man,” said Shepard, who snuck in some reps during live drills and even caught a 20-yard pass from backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor. “Just being back on the field, it’s a blessing. Especially when you go through an injury like that and you’ve been on the sidelines for so long watching those guys get after it. You have to take every day and cherish them because you never know when you’re going to have to sit out that long.”
It had been eight months and five days since Shepard tore his Achilles. He is the longest-tenured Giant and has 349 catches for 3,884 yards and 21 touchdowns in his career, all in New York.
Shepard’s return made it appear as if the Giants were actually getting healthier at the position. Toney, Board and Slayton participated in the early portions of Wednesday’s practice.
But Toney was seen grabbing at the back of his leg during the workout, and Johnson and Marcus Kemp (hamstring) suffered significant injuries. Both Johnson and Kemp landed on injured reserve later in the day.
The Giants claimed wide receivers Bailey Gaither and Jaylon Moore on Wednesday to fill the voids. They cut tight end Jordan Akins to make room on the roster.
Johnson, 24, has 29 catches for 377 yards in 26 career games with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Giants. He made his mark with the Giants last year as a blocker.
But this summer it appeared he had taken his game to the next level. He was making plays consistently throughout training camp, earning him the trust of starting quarterback Daniel Jones and some first-team reps.
Johnson even had 10 catches for 123 receiving yards in the first two preseason games this season. With Toney still banged up and Shepard coming back from a serious injury, it looked possible that Johnson could have started — or at least played a substantial role — Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans. Instead his season came to a premature end.
New York Giants rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux is expected to miss three to four weeks after initial test on the defensive end’s right knee revealed a sprained MCL, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Thibodeaux’s ACL and meniscus were intact, and the Giants hope the first-round pick will be ready for their regular-season opener against the Titans on Sept. 11, the source told Schefter.
Thibodeaux suffered the injury in Sunday’s preseason game against the Bengals when he was cut-blocked in the second quarter by Cincinnati’s Thaddeus Moss.
Thibodeaux immediately grabbed his knee and walked off the field, but the former Oregon star later told reporters that he was “all right.”
The No. 5 pick in this year’s NFL draft, Thibodeaux was having a strong summer and had a quarterback pressure earlier in Sunday’s contest.
The Giants are expecting big things this season from Thibodeaux, who has been working with the first-string defense since the start of OTAs in the spring.
Thibodeaux had 19 sacks in 30 career games at Oregon and entered last season as the potential No. 1 prospect in college football.
New York Giants top pick Kayvon Thibodeaux left Sunday night’s preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals with a knee injury and will not return.
Thibodeaux went down after getting cut-blocked by Bengals tight end Thaddeus Moss in the second quarter. He immediately grabbed at his right knee.
The cart came out for Thibodeaux, but he got up and walked right past it. The rookie went into the blue medical tent before emerging with a smile and some laughs. He walked the length of the sideline before heading inside with a trainer.
Thibodeaux was the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of the University of Oregon. He was having a strong summer and had a quarterback pressure earlier in Sunday’s contest.
The Giants are expecting big things from Thibodeaux this season. He has been working with the first-string defense since the start of OTAs in the spring.
Thibodeaux had 19.0 sacks in 30 career games at Oregon. He went into last season as the potential No. 1 overall prospect in college football.
Observations from Friday’s Giants training camp session.
Better safe than sorry
They called it a Blue-White scrimmage Friday night at MetLife Stadium but there was no live tackling allowed by the Giants’ first and second teams. That was a good move by first-year head coach Brian Daboll. Sometimes scrimmages can get overheated, with players overanxious to hit someone. Reducing the risk of injury was the way to go.
Daniel groans
The first pass Daniel Jones threw in the team period should have been turned into a pick-six by Adoree’ Jackson. It got only a bit better after that for Jones, as he had trouble locating open targets and was under too much pressure and was forced to tuck it and run too often.
Caught my eyes
On a third-and-8, defensive coordinator Wink Martindale had rookie LB Kayvon Thibodeaux drop in coverage on a pass from Jones to rookie Wan’Dale Robinson for 28 yards. Have a feeling that will not be the norm this season.
Thibodeaux all summer has shown an explosive burst as a pass rusher and he drew several holding penalties — one on LT Andrew Thomas — in the scrimmage.
Medical report
Giants rookie offensive lineman Marcus McKethan is carted off the field during the Giants’ Blue-White scrimmage.Robert Sabo
Rookie OL Marcus McKethan, a fifth-round pick from North Carolina, went down while pass blocking and had to be carted off the field.
It has been a rough go of it for new TE Ricky Seals-Jones, who missed a sixth straight practice.
WR David Sills V worked on the side, as did newly acquired DB Nate Meadors. CB Rodarius Williams and WR Robert Foster also did not practice. Adoree’ Jackson appeared to cramp up during an extended drive.
The quarterbacks were the story at camps Tuesday. New Carolina Panthers QB Baker Mayfield hit on a electric deep ball that got fans talking. The Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts had his most impressive day so far, and the Joneses — the New York Giants’ Daniel Jones and the New England Patriots’ Mac Jones — logged encouraging days for their teams.
In non-QB news, Kyle Pitts continues to dominate Atlanta Falcons practices. New York Jets rookie running back Breece Hall is coming on strong, showcasing his burst and versatility. And Orlando Brown Jr. practiced for the first time since signing his one-year contract worth almost $16.7 million.
Things are picking up throughout the NFL. Who made a mark Tuesday? Who got dinged up? Who had the most fun?
Here’s what you need to know from camps across the league:
What our NFL Nation reporters saw today
The kicking competition between Lirim Hajrullahu and Jonathan Garibay has gotten off to a slow start. On Tuesday, Garibay made 6 of 8 attempts in special teams drills but missed all three tries from 49, 54 and 59 yards in the special situation portion of the work. Hajrullahu was just 3-of-8 in drills and made one attempt in his situational work.
In three days of kicking, both kickers are 17-of-27.
“That wasn’t [a] confidence builder going against about a 50 mph wind trying them from 60 yards out,” owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. “I was kidding somebody [and said], ‘I just want to see them make extra points and kicks from the 20 and the 30.'”— Todd Archer
It took six practices into training camp, but Lamar Jackson finally threw an interception. Jackson was picked off by safety Tony Jefferson, who made an outstanding play by tipping the ball to himself before pulling it in.
“I don’t know how he got a hand on that ball, in and of itself,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said after practice.
Jackson’s first interception came on what was his sharpest day of the summer. He completed 15 of 19 passes (79%), which included a drop by Rashod Bateman on a deep throw. — Jamison Henley
Bills safety Jordan Poyer suffered an elbow injury during the team’s 11-on-11 drills while tackling rookie running back James Cook. He hyperextended his elbow and will miss a few weeks, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Poyer left the team’s locker room with his left arm inside a shirt and appeared to be wearing a sling. Safety Micah Hyde is also making his way back from hip/glute injury. He has yet to fully participate in practice after suffering the injury Friday. The injuries have opened up opportunities for backups Jaquan Johnson and Damar Hamlin. Johnson seemed to get more opportunities Tuesday with Poyer out, but it will certainly be a competition to watch.
Cornerback Tre’Davious White also continues to progress after tearing his ACL nine months ago. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said that the athletic trainers communicated to him “[White’s] really progressing well and they’re excited about where he is at this point.” — Alaina Getzenberg
Carolina Panthers: Panthers wideout Robby Anderson tweeted “Noooooo” back in April when news came out the Panthers were interested in acquiring quarterback Baker Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns. On Tuesday, teammates and fans were saying “Ooooooh” over a play Anderson made with the former No. 1 overall pick. Mayfield, working with the 1s, threw a strike of about 50 yards that the veteran wide receiver hauled in close to the goal line.
Explosive plays is what you get with Mayfield, and what the Panthers haven’t had in a few years. You also get occasional mistakes. Linebacker Frankie Luvu jumped Mayfield’s pass for an interception late in a two-minute drill. Overall, the day had to go to Mayfield over Sam Darnold, who was working with the 2s, although not by much. In the red zone, Mayfield was 3-for-8 for a touchdown. Darnold was 6-for-8 with two touchdowns and an interception due to an amazing defensive play.
The battle to be the starting QB is still too close to call, but coach Matt Rhule likes how Mayfield has picked up the offense. “We test guys every day,” he said. “His tests come back in the hundreds. He’s a pros pro.” — David Newton
Atlanta Falcons: When the Falcons drafted tight end Kyle Pitts with the No. 4 pick in 2021, the franchise knew he had the potential to be a game-changer and generational player. And while it’s just training camp, the difference in Pitts’ play from a year ago to now is noticeable.
On almost every rep, Pitts is winning off the line of scrimmage and then getting open for the quarterback — both in team and individual drills. The most noticeable one Tuesday came in an individual rep against linebacker Mykal Walker. Pitts accelerated, stopped for the smallest of seconds and then burst past Walker for an easy reception on a deep pass.
The Falcons have a lot of questions this year, but Pitts is not one of them. Through a week, he’s been the most dominant player Atlanta has. It might not be close. — Michael Rothstein
Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts is heating up. It was the team’s first day in pads and Hurts had his best showing of the summer, highlighted by a 50-plus yard dime to Jalen Reagor, the former first-round pick who is “battling for a spot” on the team, per coach Nick Sirianni.
Hurts followed with a laser over the middle to new battery mate A.J. Brown. Earlier in the session, during one-on-ones, he hit DeVonta Smith down the left sideline, dropping it in over corner James Bradberry. Hurts has been up and down to this point in camp, with the arrow pointing up over the last couple days. — Tim McManus
New York Giants: Daniel Jones had himself a day. His best this summer. By a good margin. It’s a good sign considering the Giants’ offense hadn’t exactly been lighting it up early in camp as they learn Brian Daboll’s offense.
For the most part, the first-team unit and its quarterback have struggled. Not Tuesday, when Jones went 16-of-20 with two touchdowns and two interceptions on a day when wide receiver Kenny Golladay sat out team drills. His replacement, David Sills, did a good chunk of the damage. Sills had five catches in live drills, including a touchdown reception to end the day’s action.
“It felt good being in there,” Sills said. “I think DJ has a good feel for where I’m going to be. A trust for me.”
If not for a late red-zone interception, Jones’ numbers and the offense’s performance would look and feel even better. Overall, still a good day. — Jordan Raanan
Houston Texans: Davis Mills was excellent in Monday’s practice, probably his best day in camp. Mills went 13-for-17 in team drills with two TD throws the red zone team 22 period. He also went 6-6 with four TD passes during 7-on-7 red zone from the 12-yard line period. He led the Texans offense into scoring position during the two-minute drill after facing a 4th and 15. — DJ Bien-Aime
New York Jets: With RB1 Michael Carter sitting out 11-on-11 drills with a minor ankle injury, rookie Breece Hall got a chance to get extensive work with the starters. He rotated with Ty Johnson and rookie Zonovan Knight, but Hall got the most carries.
Listed as 5-foot-11, 217 pounds, Hall is the biggest back on the roster. He showed excellent open-field speed and made a diving catch in a 7-on-7 period. The Jets love his versatility, and he will push Carter for early playing time. Carter is listed as day-to-day. — Rich Cimini
Kansas City Chiefs: After sitting out the first week of camp, left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. signed his one-year contract worth almost $16.7 million and practiced for the first time. Brown stepped immediately into the starting lineup as the Chiefs put him to work during a run-blocking period and later a 1-on-1 pass-blocking drill. Brown departed practice shortly before its end for a conditioning session, which is part of the team’s acclimation plan for Brown, who missed all of offseason practice as well. The plan is to steadily increase his workload. — Adam Teicher
New Orleans Saints: Saints quarterback Jameis Winston had one of his best plays of camp when he hit wide receiver Deonte Harty in stride for a touchdown of at least 50 yards in 11-on-11 drills.
Harty, an All-Pro kick returner, is one of the fastest players on the roster, and he showed off his speed by easily beating safety Justin Evans for the score. Starting safety Tyrann Mathieu, who has been excused from camp for personal reasons, has not returned to the team yet.
Harty joked that he owed Winston one for dropping a pass earlier in camp.
“He knew he wanted to throw it there. He told me exactly what to do and I went out there and did it,” Harty said.
He added: “I never lose stride with Jameis. I’ve got faith in his arm.” — Katherine Terrell
Green Bay Packers: The biggest difference in Jordan Love compared to last year was evident Tuesday. One day after he threw a practicing-ending, pick-six, he came back with perhaps his best performance of camp.
Last year, he might have tried to play it safe after a bad day. This time, he came back firing even with heavy pressure in his face. He didn’t flinch and found his primary targets with two of his best throws of camp: a deep crosser to Sammy Watkins and a perfectly-placed ball that rookie Romeo Doubs caught in spectacular, outstretched fashion for a touchdown in the back corner of the end zone during a red-zone period.
“I think it does show growth,” Love said after practice. “Just to be able to trust that I know where the receiver’s going to be with pressure in my face and still be able to try and slow it down a little bit to focus on where I need to put the ball. When you first get here, I wasn’t able to make those throws under pressure.” — Rob Demovsky
New England Patriots: QB Mac Jones capped off his practice with a touchdown throw to receiver Nelson Agholor that sparked an offensive celebration, but Jones acknowledged that the defense has had more success through the first six practices of camp.
“It’s very competitive and when we lose the day, to me that’s like a shot in the heart,” Jones said. “So better days ahead. You know we’re in the start of this thing and we got to get it going.” — Mike Reiss
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants released cornerback James Bradberry on Monday in order to save around $10.1 million against the salary cap this season.
New general manager Joe Schoen was trying to find a trade for Bradberry since before free agency in March but couldn’t find anything that worked for all parties involved. Schoen admitted last week he was surprised there wasn’t more interest in the team’s No. 1 cornerback.
“Yeah, I was,” he said last Wednesday on WFAN Sports Radio. “I thought there would be more interest. There were some teams that showed interest pre-draft, and we had a couple different times there were compensation in place and the contract never worked out. Being the fact that we did have good talks with the other teams and their agents had good talks with teams, sometimes if you’re going to renegotiate a contract and couldn’t come to an agreement, it is what it is.”
The move for the Giants was more about the money than an indictment on the player. Bradberry, 28, was set to make $13.5 million this season and would have counted as $21.9 million on the Giants’ cap. It leaves the Giants thin at cornerback, where the oft-injured Adoree’ Jackson is the only veteran with significant starting experience.
The Giants needed the savings in order to sign their draft class and operate throughout the season. They were just $6 million under the cap as of last week, according to the Roster Management System.
Bradberry had $2 million of his $13.4 million base salary guaranteed at the start of the league year.
“Listen, he’s a starting corner in the league,” Schoen told WFAN last week. “It’s just where we are financially. We still got to sign our draft picks, be able to sign our practice squad and have replacement costs for during the season.”
Despite the move, the Giants still have to eat almost $10 million in dead money against the cap. That leaves them with close to $30 million in dead money for this upcoming season, fifth-most in the NFL.
The Giants also lost one of their best and most productive players. Bradberry was one of just five players on their roster to make a Pro Bowl in their career. He was their top cornerback last season and made the Pro Bowl in his first year with the Giants in 2020, when had a career-best 79.8 Pro Football Focus grade. He’s been in the 60s every other year of his career. The veteran cornerback had a career high with four interceptions and recovered a pair of fumbles this past season.
Bradberry spent the first four years of his career with the Carolina Panthers. The Giants signed him as a free agent in the 2020 offseason to a deal worth $43.5 million over three years. He was entering the final year of that contract, which made it more difficult to trade him as a one-year rental unless there was a new contract.
The Samford product has played in 92 career games (91 starts) for the Giants and Panthers.
