Several New York Giants trended in the right direction on Thursday, but TE Evan Engram (calf) seems unlikely to play in Week 1.
The New York Giants returned to the field on Thursday afternoon in preparation for a Week 1 game against the Denver Broncos and several injured players continued to trend in the right direction.
Prior to practice, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett announced the news everyone was waiting to hear: running back Saquon Barkley is finally 100 percent.
“[I have] a lot of confidence in him as a player. I think he’s done a great job to get himself back healthy and 100 percent,” Garrett told reporters.
There was also optimism surrounding rookie wide receiver Kadarius Toney (hamstring), who may take on a “significant role” this Sunday.
“Kadarius is earning everyone’s trust. He’s getting out here and he’s working,” special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey said.
News was not nearly as positive for tight end Evan Engram (calf), who was again limited to work with trainers on the side. He is likely out against Denver.
The Giants’ full Thursday injury report can be found below:
Did not participate: TE Evan Engram (calf)
Limited participant: RB Saquon Barkley (knee), WR Kenny Golladay (hamstring), LB Justin Hilliard (foot), CB Adoree’ Jackson (ankle), DB Josh Jackson (calf), TE Kyle Rudolph (foot), DT Danny Shelton (neck), TE Kaden Smith (knee), OT Andrew Thomas (ankle) and WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring).
New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley (knee) was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, but TE Evan Engram (calf) sat out.
The New York Giants took the field for their first (full) regular-season practice of 2021 on Wednesday and all eyes were on running back Saquon Barkley (knee).
As anticipated, Barkley was geared up and took the field with his teammates. He participated during the portion of practice open to the media, as did wide receivers Kenny Golladay (hamstring) and Kadarius Toney (hamstring).
“Yeah I’m good. Just working every day to get better,” Toney told reporters when asked if he’s healthy and ready. “I’m here to do my job. Whatever they say.”
Head coach Joe Judge said Toney would likely play a “significant role” on Sunday against the Denver Broncos, but he specified production over volume.
Meanwhile, tight end Evan Engram (calf) did not participate in practice and his status for Week 1 remains very much in doubt.
The Giants’ full Wednesday injury report can be found below:
Did not participate: TE Evan Engram (calf)
Limited participant: RB Saquon Barkley (knee), WR Kenny Golladay (hamstring), LB Justin Hilliard (foot), CB Adoree’ Jackson (ankle), DB Josh Jackson (calf), TE Kyle Rudolph (foot), DT Danny Shelton (neck), TE Kaden Smith (knee), OT Andrew Thomas (ankle) and WR Kadarius Toney (hamstring).
The New York Giants have been awarded three players off of waivers including linebacker Quincy Roche.
The New York Giants were awarded three players during the waiver claiming period on Wednesday: linebackers Justin Hilliard and Quincy Roche, and wide receiver Collin Johnson.
Hilliard (6’1″, 231) hails from Ohio State and was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as a UDFA in May after six years in the Buckeyes program.
Roche (6’3″, 245) was a sixth-round pick out of Miami by the Pittsburgh Steelers in this year’s NFL draft.
Johnson is a long receiver (6-foot-6, 222 pounds) who was a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He had 18 receptions for 272 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie last season.
The Giants will have to make roster decisions on three players if they are planning on adding these three to their active rosters.
Here’s who we’re watching Sunday when the #49ers defense is on the field vs. the Chargers.
The 49ers’ starting defense looks for the most part on track to be ready for the season opener. There are a slew of depth issues yet to be resolved though, and how Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers goes could go a long way toward sussing out some of the roster questions still facing the club.
Finding depth on the defensive side will be key given how unproven a lot of those players are. Any reserve thrust into a starting situation is going to do so without a ton of playing experience. That’s why so many of the young players that were on our radar for the preseason opener will be on our list of players to watch in the second preseason contest against the Chargers.
The San Francisco 49ers signed 10 rookies, including five draft picks to contracts. Trey Lance was not among them.
The San Francisco 49ers on Thursday made 10 rookie signings official, including five of their eight draft picks and five undrafted free agents.
No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance was not among the players to sign one day before the start of rookie minicamp. Third-round picks RB Trey Sermon and CB Ambry Thomas have also yet to ink their rookie deals.
Given the standardized nature of the NFL’s four-year rookie contracts for draft picks there’s not a ton to iron out and the signings are more of a formality than anything. Players just have to sign before training camp starts or they’ll have to hold out.
There weren’t any surprises among the undrafted players either. San Francisco’s UDFA class is relatively small with four plus their signee via the NFL international pathway program.
Here are the 10 rookies who inked their deals Thursday:
The San Francisco 49ers added former Ohio State linebacker Justin Hilliard as an undrafted free agent right after the 2021 NFL draft.
The 2021 NFL draft is officially over and ten former Ohio State Buckeyes found their new team during draft weekend, but a few former Ohio State studs were not selected. Everyone knows how fast and furious NFL teams are after the draft picking up undrafted free agents and the San Francisco 49ers have found a good one.
Former five-star recruit Justin Hilliard had a very solid career for the Buckeyes after arriving to Columbus via Cincinnati powerhouse St. Xavier. Although solid, Hilliard never quite lived up to the five-star hype due to a string of unfortunate injuries.
Hilliard will be joining an already Ohio State loaded San Francisco 49er team who just drafted Trey Sermon and already have Nick Bosa.
The #49ers are signing former Ohio State LB Justin Hilliard to a hefty rookie free-agent deal that includes a $30,000 signing bonus and $95,000 base salary guarantee, per source.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Ohio State linebacker prospect Justin Hilliard
In a group of talented Ohio State linebackers, it can be tough for a player to stand out. However, Justin Hilliard has managed to do exactly that.
After tallying 33 tackles and 5 tackles for a loss in six games in 2020, Hilliard earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl and now projects as a likely selection in the 2021 NFL draft.
Draft Wire had the chance to speak with Hilliard about his pre-draft process, his Senior Bowl experience, his versatility and more.
JI: You played in an OSU linebacker group that features three other prospects for the 2021 draft. What was it like, being a part of such a talented group, and what did that do for you and your teammates?
JH: Me and the linebacker crew that’s coming out for this draft class, we’ve been together for literally years. It’s such a cool journey we’ve been on, because if you would have heard anything about our linebacker core like, three years ago? You would’ve heard [that] we’re the worst unit to ever play college football of all time (laughs). I think from that point, we just bonded together, and instead of falling apart, we just got closer together. We just kept pushing each other, man.
I think after years of pushing each other and competing with each other… all of us – Tuf [Borland], Baron [Browning], me and Pete [Werner] – we’re super different compared to each other, but I think we let those differences fuel us. We’re super close. Every day, we made it a goal to push each other as hard as we can, and i think it got to the point where we were playing at the high level we were this year.
JI: With four linebackers for three spots, I imagine it could get competitive and potentially hostile, but it seems like you are all genuinely proud of each other’s successes, right?
JH: Oh, yeah. Don’t get me wrong; we competed hard as hell. It was at the end of the day, after practice, we were in the same room watching film, trying to get better because we knew we had the opportunity [to go pro]. It wasn’t just three guys who could play in the NFL; literally all four of us could play in the NFL. We just made it a goal to literally push each other the hardest we could, but at the same time, keep rooting for each other’s success.
Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
JI: You were definitely versatile in your alignment, so in talking with teams, is there a consensus on what spot they project you at in the pros?
JH: Not really. I’ve been hearing a bunch of things. A majority of teams I talk to probably have me inside, maybe at MIKE or WILL. I think a lot of defenses that run a 4-3 defense…the position I played a last year, you usually just play that with the safety, but I know I’m still capable of playing that spot. A bunch of different teams I’ve been studying maybe emphasize that SAM role a little bit more, but I feel like I’m able to play all three positions. I’m just excited to see where I fall up.
JI: You broke out and had a career year in 2020. What would you say you worked on the most prior to this year?
JH: Honestly, I’ve been hearing a lot of that, like there’s almost a certain change in my approach or play. My first two years, I felt like I wasn’t the player I was that I am today, but after two, three years at Ohio State, I flipped the switch, and I felt like from that point on, my approach has been the same. Even when I maybe wasn’t making 10 tackles in a playoff game, I was working to add as much value as I can. The reps I got were primarily on special teams and maybe a couple reps at linebacker, but I feel like I did that at a high level. This year, I feel like I just had more of an opportunity to showcase that.
JI: One thing I’ve noticed about you on film is how well you move. Can you walk me through what you’re reading and diagnosing, in coverage or run support, that allows you to move with as much speed as you do?
JH: That’s another thing, is I think even still, people read my injury list and cross off my athleticism, but I feel like if you watch my film, you know I can run with pretty much anyone in the country. I think the biggest thing for me this year or the past couple years making a step was working on my preparation: working on my eyes and keys. I think the biggest thing at my position SAM was I was reading everything; I was pretty much out of the box 85 percent of the time.
My keys were almost entirely on the tight end, running back and tackle. I feel like I was able to anticipate so much just by keying those three. As far as man coverage and things like that, this year I took a huge step up in my football IQ. When I was in man coverage, I feel like I knew what type of routes were coming and what routes to expect. I think that helped a lot.
Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
JI: That step up worked really well and led to you getting a Senior Bowl invitation. What did you take away from that experience in Mobile, and what was it like to work with NFL coaching staffs?
JH: Playing at the Senior Bowl was a huge goal of mine. Literally a few months and weeks going into that, I was checking my phone every day, waiting for the invite. As soon as I got the invite, I knew exactly what I wanted to show. I think the biggest thing I wanted to show first was my athleticism, so just locking everyone up in man coverage in one-on-ones, and then same thing in pass rush.
Then, the second thing I wanted to show was just my versatility. Just these last two years, I’ve played outside at the SAM position, but during the Senior Bowl, I made it an emphasis to work on MIKE and WILL. I was only a linebacker who played two positions, and during that Senior Bowl, I played MIKE and WILL that whole week. I just wanted to show off my versatility and show off that I can play all three positions.
JI: How do like to spend your free time outside of football?
JH: Now, honestly, I’ve become – I think quarantine for COVID made me – I’m kind of an outdoorsman guy. A good day for me is just waking up, I’ve been going to yoga a ton. I go to yoga, I go on a little hike. I have a two-year-old dog now, so if I don’t take him on a little hike, he literally goes nuts (laughs). I’m a little bit of an outdoorsman, and I like to try a bunch of new stuff. I’m pretty chill.
JI: I can imagine yoga helps out with clearing your mind, but also helping your flexibility and moving around on the field, right?
JH: Oh, yeah. When I started doing yoga, it was honestly after I tore my Achilles, I was like, ‘Woah, I really can’t have any more injuries’ (laughs). I was trying to do everything in my power to incorporate into my routine to avoid any type of injury. I have a whole mobility routine and go to yoga about three, four times a week now. So yeah, I think it helps a lot, but the biggest part of it for me was injury prevention.
JI: Let’s say I’m an NFL general manager. What would I be getting if I drafted you to my team?
JH: I think the biggest thing that I tell scouts is that if you guys were to take me, the biggest thing is the energy I bring, the energy I play with. I told scouts all the time: I promise you you won’t be able to find any reps – special teams, linebacker – where I took off. That style of play is contagious and can help any organization. I think that’s the biggest trait because honestly, I think it’s rare. If you watch film, I don’t think a lot of times, you see guys playing with that type of way I play. I think another thing is my versatility, athleticism…usually when they ask that question, I go on for days and try to tell them as much as I can (laughs). I think the biggest thing is just the way I play the game, man.
We continue our journey through comps of some of the Ohio State football players in the 2021 NFL draft. Next is linebacker Justin Hilliard.
The 2021 NFL draft is less than two weeks away and we have more than a dozen eligible Ohio State Buckeyes that could hear their name called during draft weekend. We covered most of the former Ohio state stars in previous editions of this piece, but today we break down Justin Hilliard.
Hilliard was a top twenty recruit in his class picking Ohio State over Michigan and Notre Dame, but his career took a little longer to develop due to his lengthy injury history. His impact was certainly felt during the College Football Playoffs when he tallied eight tackles against Clemson.
He became a major contributor on defense as the season wore on last year and really shined during Senior Bowl week.
Between free agency departures and salary cap constraints, the New Orleans Saints are vulnerable at several positions heading into the 2021 NFL draft. Their myriad needs includes cornerback, linebacker, defensive linemen, and wide receiver. To get a sense of which players are being linked to the Saints, let’s analyze some recent mock drafts around the league. We’ll look at the projected first and second round picks by New Orleans, and assess team and prototypal fit.
The Saints addressed two critical positions in Austin Gayle’s latest Pro Football Focus mock draft. New Orleans picked Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley in the first round (No. 28 overall) and selected Ohio State linebacker Justin Hilliard in the second round (No. 60). Here’s what Gayle wrote on Farley and what he could bring to the Saints:
“Currently PFF’s top-ranked cornerback and No. 14 overall player in the 2021 class, Farley is a fluid athlete with all the tools necessary to dominate at outside cornerback in the NFL. Before opting out of the 2020 season and declaring for the draft, the 6-foot-2, 207-pounder earned a 90.5 PFF coverage grade that ranked third among Power Five cornerbacks in 2019.
While Farley could very well be the best cornerback to come out of the 2021 class, concerns with his back injury and his sheer lack of experience at outside cornerback could lead to him being available for the Saints at No. 28.”
Farley is a steal at 28. His draft value depreciated with his recent back surgery, which followed an ACL tear early in his college career; it’s a gamble the Saints should take. He fits the mold at 6-foot-2 and 197 pounds; a rare breed of size, speed, physicality, and athleticism offsets concerns of inconsistency. With his scheme fit and man coverage abilities, Farley could easily develop into a top-tier corner under Kris Richard. Of note, NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill, one of the most clued-in reporters on the Saints beat, picked Farley in his Saints cornerback draft analysis.
The Saints critically need a No. 2 linebacker opposite Demario Davis. That answer is not Justin Hilliard. As Sean Payton learned from Bill Parcells, draft players who fit the mold. Hilliard is undersized at 229 pounds, and lacks the necessary speed with 40-yard dash times of 4.84 and 4.81 seconds. Run-stopping Missouri Tigers linebacker Nick Bolton, who timed a 4.6 flat at 237 pounds, fell to No. 41; a trade up here for Bolton would be preferable.
In Luke Easterling’s updated mock draft over at Draft Wire, the Saints selected Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Jamin Davis at No. 28 overall, and Florida Gators wide receiver Kadarius Toney at No. 60. Hard to justify either pick. Davis’ stock rose with an insane 40-yard dash time of 4.41 seconds; but he’s still a developmental prospect and way undersized at 224 pounds. Davis doesn’t fit the mold.
Same sentiment with Kadarius Toney. Undersized at 5-foot-11 and 189 pounds, and a limited ceiling as a route-runner. The Saints have gone against their prototypes before if a prospect has a unique skill (see: Brandin Cooks’ straight-line speed) but Toney is too limited a player at this stage in his career.
Much more prototypical players were on the board, including Dyami Brown, who should be the pick. Brown’s physicality would be a nightmare opposite Michael Thomas, with strong blocking and route-running prowess, should New Orleans go receiver in the second round. With the sparse cornerback talent remaining at No. 60, four who fit the scheme should take priority: Aaron Robinson, Paulson Adebo, Kelvin Joseph, or Asante Samuel. Any of those corners can start right away.
Past the Farley pick, these are the right positional picks, but the wrong players. The Saints are known for sticking to their prototypes, and none of these fit. Pro day workouts and drills results mean a lot to them and help New Orleans shape the draft board. While they aren’t so dogmatic to rule out prospects for not running a fast enough 40 yard dash, their draft history suggests it takes special players to force their hand.
Linebacker Justin Hilliard is next on our scouting of NFL Draft eligible Ohio State Buckeyes. What are his strengths and weaknesses?
The next player up on our scouting of the 2021 NFL draft eligible Ohio State Buckeyes is linebacker Justin Hilliard. Hilliard may not be getting the same attention as the other three Buckeyes’ linebackers, but Hilliard has some upside and fits a role on any team. While he may not go very early in the draft, he provides depth and special teams ability teams will love.
Hilliard is often the forgotten linebacker: Pete Werner, Baron Browning and Tuf Borland get most of the attention. Hilliard played more in 2020, and even broke into the main rotation late, which helps his case to be drafted. He should hear his name called at some point, but where he fits is another question. Let’s take a look at Hilliard.
