Giants Preseason Game Highlights Against the Bills

In the preseason matchup against the Bills on Saturday, the Giants didn’t have any starters on the field for a snap.

Yet, one player stood out by staying in the game for the entire first half.

While most defensive starters exited after forcing two punts on just eight plays, cornerback Deonte Banks continued to play alongside backups until halftime.

What led to this decision? Well, it wasn’t just a simple rotation issue—cornerbacks Cor’dale Flott, Tre Hawkins, and Art Green were unavailable.

“I thought he could use some jobs,” coach Brian Daboll explained. “So I played him as much as I wanted to play him.”

It’s worth mentioning that Banks is competing hard with Flott, who hasn’t practiced recently due to injuries.

“We only had four corners available, so someone had to step up,” Banks noted. “I love football, so I just do my job.”

Some criticism has been directed at Banks for tight coverage yet not turning his head in time to spot the ball. This almost happened again during the second quarter when, despite his coverage, Christian Wilkerson slipped past him.

“I felt like I squeezed him,” Banks said. “I saw the ball coming but just tried to play with my hands. Honestly, I thought I could have made a better play if I was more aware.”

Last season, his tackle efforts drew skepticism, and this preseason game was pretty much his only chance for live tackling.

“I missed a tackle there; the running back bounced back and kept going,” Banks admitted. “It’s a bit rusty, but I feel like I made some solid tackles too.”

Alongside Flott, the Giants were also without RG Evan Neal, WR Jaring Hyatt, WR Malik Nabels, WR Darius Slayton, RB Camsquattebo, Edge Chauncy Golston, and DT Dexter Lawrence.

Daboll mentioned that most of those absences, including Hyatt’s, were due to medical decisions.

Neal’s absence was particularly significant, given he needed reps to adjust to a new position opposite Greg Van Roten.

Quarterback Russell Wilson had a solid debut for the Giants, completing 6 out of 7 passes for 28 yards during a 12-play, 30-yard drive that ended in a field goal.

“I think these preseason games are crucial for locker room culture and understanding our rhythm,” Wilson shared. “I really wanted to play.”

All four quarterbacks contributed significantly during the game.

Jameis Winston connected with Gunner Olszewski for a touchdown pass and added a two-point conversion to Thomas Fidone—both impressive grabs.

Winston capitalized on a second chance after an earlier interception was negated by an offside penalty.

Meanwhile, Tommy DeVito also threw a touchdown pass to Jonathan Ward.

For defensive tackles facing a tough challenge to secure spots on the roster, former draft picks DJ Davidson and Jordon Riley were the only ones to record sacks and tackles for losses for the Giants.