New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks committed two penalties in the team's 13-10 preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 15, 2026, a setback in his attempt to rebound from previous seasons.
Banks, who had shown signs of reviving his career during training camp under new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, was flagged for two illegal contact penalties. One was declined by the Vikings. He logged 23 defensive snaps while starting in the game. Banks also returned one kickoff for 27 yards.
"The first one I had bad eyes, that was on me," Banks said of the penalties. "The second one, I don't know what you want to do there. But I'm not a ref."
Banks, a former first-round pick, did not play a single defensive snap in Weeks 13 and 14 of the previous season. He stated that the new scheme fits him well and that the coaching staff wants him to be aggressive and stay consistent.
During the game, Banks did not allow a completion and registered two tackles. He was rotating with the starters at cornerback as the team navigated injuries to projected starters Paulson Adebo and Greg Newsome II. Banks acknowledged that this season is pivotal for him, as he is in the final year of his contract after the Giants declined his fifth-year option.
In other game news, Vikings safety Jamal Adams suffered a noncontact knee injury. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell described the injury as "not looking good" pending an MRI exam. Several projected starters for both teams did not play in the preseason matchup, including OLB Brian Burns, WR Malik Nabers, and S Jevon Holland for the Giants, and other key players like LB Tremaine Edmunds and DT D.J. Reader.