Giants training camp: What we learned on Day 1

Jaxson Dart’s day, injury news, practice updates

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants completed their first practice of training camp on Wednesday. Highlights included Malik Nabers grabbing a couple of touchdown passes from Russell Wilson in the red zone. A lowlight included a Jaxson Dart pick six.

Here is some of what we saw and learned.

Injury stuff

We knew on Tuesday that left tackle Andrew Thomas (Lisfranc surgery rehab) and running back Eric Gray (knee) would begin training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

Head coach Brian Daboll was typically evasive Wednesday on timelines for them to return.

“They’ll be back when they’re ready to be back,” Daboll said.

GM Joe Schoen said the Giants expect Thomas, who has missed 18 games with a variety of leg, foot and ankle issues the past two seasons, to be ready for the season-opener against the Washington Commanders.

“He should be ready for the opener,” Schoen said. “Again, things change. You can never be one hundred percent, but we’re going to take it day by day with him. When he is ready, he’ll be out there, but we anticipate him to be ready for the opener.”

• Wide receiver Malik Nabers was a full participant and said that while surgery on his troublesome toe has been discussed, it is not a consideration at this time. Nabers also said he believes he “can be” the best receiver in the NFL.

“The work is going to always show. There are a lot of guys that work all year round so the work will show,” Nabers said. “I feel like I should be one of those top guys in a few years, if not next year. That’s just me personally, but time will tell.”

• Inside linebacker Bobby Okereke, who missed the final few practices of the spring, was a full participant.
• Rookie running back Cam Skattebo and rookie defensive tackle Darius Alexander were full participants after missing large portions of the spring. Skattebo caught a touchdown pass from Dart in 7 on 7. Alexander appeared to get his 11 on 11 snaps with the second and third teams.

Quarterback update

Daboll reiterated on Wednesday that Russell Wilson is the starting quarterback. [See full story] GM Joe Schoen said rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart won’t play until “the time’s right or the circumstance is right.”

There is no way of telling exactly when that will be.

“I think there’s some real benefits from sitting and learning specifically from some of the guys in the room that have the experience that they have,” Schoen said. “But if the coaching staff at some point feels it’s right and he’s ready, then I’ll leave that up to them.”

Daboll said that young players will make mistakes, but that being an “error repeater” will keep you chained to the bench.

“It’s easy to look at veteran players, not just at the quarterback position and guys that have had a lot of...