Skeptics of former draft bust Deonte Banks' resurgent training camp wanted to see him take his renewed success from the practice field into a game. He checked that box Sunday with four tackles and two passes defended in the Giants’ 28-20 victory against the Cowboys.
Banks was rewarded for his summer performance by starting at cornerback over Paulson Adebo. "I think Deonte did a great job," safety Jevón Holland said. "I love his energy, I love his demeanor, I love how he treats his teammates. He earned that job for a reason, and I think everybody in the facility would tell you the same thing."
Despite giving up a 1-yard touchdown catch to CeeDee Lamb in the second quarter and dealing with cramping in the second half, Banks showed greater effort pursuing the ball, particularly in the run game, than he has over his past two seasons. He also kept a receiver inbounds to wind the clock in the two-minute drill and broke up a pass that could have set up a half-ending field goal attempt.
Adebo, the Giants' highest-paid free agent signing from 2025, was outplayed in the summer by Banks and 2026 free agent addition Greg Newsome II. For Banks, the performance marked a significant step after a difficult road, having played zero defensive snaps in two games last December. He began returning kickoffs around that time to maintain a role, a duty he also fulfilled on Sunday.
In other team news, cornerback Dru Phillips committed three defensive pass interference penalties against the Cowboys, adding to the three he committed last season. Ar’Darius Washington is expected to challenge Phillips for playing time.
Bronx native Jose Alvarado, the championship-winning backup point guard for the New York Knicks, was celebrated on the field during the second quarter.
The Giants inactivated TE Thomas Fidone II, OL J.C. Davis, DT Bobby Jamison-Travis, CB Nic Jones, S Jason Pinnock, RB Najee Harris, and WR Dalen Cambre. Cambre was added to the 53-man roster Saturday as insurance for Malik Nabers, whose status was uncertain until shortly before kickoff. Harris's inactive status places him fourth on the running back depth chart, suggesting a potentially fluid rotation with Devin Singletary and Tyrone Tracy Jr., who fumbled on his second carry of the season.