J.C. Davis Impresses in Preseason Game Against Dolphins

Ideally, the Giants would prefer not to lean heavily on J.C. Davis this season, which would indicate that their offensive line, especially Andrew Thomas, remains healthy. If that’s the case, they wouldn’t have to test their backups—or a sixth-round rookie like Davis—to see if he can protect Jaxson Dart against a regular-season defense.

However, Davis made quite a mark during Saturday’s preseason victory over the Dolphins in Miami. He played all 81 snaps at left tackle and earned the highest pass-blocking grade (87.1) and run-blocking grade (87.0) among Giants linemen, according to Pro Football Focus. Some starters, like right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, center John Michael Schmitz, and left guard Jon Runyan Jr., saw some action, and so did key backups.

Interestingly, Davis mentioned it had been a while since he played in such a heat—he recalled his time at New Mexico when they faced Texas A&M back in 2023. Even with the challenging conditions, he distinguished himself with both his endurance and performance.

“I think it was a great opportunity for the coaches to see what I can do at left tackle,” Davis remarked after practice on Monday. “Overall, I think it went pretty well, but there are definitely things I need to improve.”

Feedback from the coaching staff has been positive, with a note that they “notice you,” though he understands he still has to keep progressing. At just 22, Davis has also played at Contra Costa Community College and the University of Illinois. He’s been trying to absorb as much as he can from Andrew Thomas, learning about his practice and game preparation as well as his approach to pass sets and run blocking. Davis mentioned that he aims for steady improvement throughout camp, yet it was hard not to see his significant progress on Saturday.

Coach John Harbaugh expressed that testing Davis was a goal, to evaluate if the rookie could handle a complete NFL game at left tackle. While it was just the preseason, it marked an essential step in Davis’ growth, which, in turn, builds trust for the Giants—a vital factor given their struggles to fill in for Thomas, who has missed 22 regular-season games since the 2023 season began.

Unlike Thomas, who was a first-round pick with high expectations, Davis arrived with comparatively low pressure. This makes performances like Saturday’s meaningful, especially as he aims to secure a reserve position despite being a Day 3 draft pick.

“J.C. doesn’t carry the same weight of expectations as Thomas does,” Harbaugh noted. “However, he will be expected to play an important role for the team, and he could be called upon at any moment. So, he needs to be ready.”