Third-year running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. is facing a difficult decision regarding his place on the New York Giants roster following a series of critical errors during the preseason. Head coach John Harbaugh indicated that while Tracy's overall performance has been positive, two specific plays in the team's recent exhibition games are being closely scrutinized.
In the Giants' 26-3 preseason victory over the Dolphins on August 22, Tracy committed an unforced fumble inside the Miami 10-yard line during the first quarter. This followed a previous miscue in the preseason opener against the Vikings, where he missed a block on a blitz, resulting in quarterback Jaxson Dart taking a significant hit.
"Nobody feels worse about it than he does," Harbaugh said of Tracy's gaffes. "He's a very conscientious, very determined guy. It matters a lot to him, so he's beating himself up." Harbaugh acknowledged that the team must balance these negative plays against Tracy's otherwise strong performance, which has included numerous good runs, catches, and effective pass protection.
With veteran running backs Cam Skattebo, Devin Singletary, and the newly signed Najee Harris ahead of him on the depth chart, Tracy's path to making the final roster appears challenging. The coach described the situation as an "ongoing pecking order" that is "still to be determined over the course of the next week."
In other roster developments, rookie left tackle J.C. Davis appears to be solidifying his position. Davis played every snap at left tackle in the game against the Dolphins, a plan by the coaching staff to assess his capability to handle the role for an entire NFL game. "He did it well. He had a lot of plus plays, he graded out very well and that’s a big step in his development for sure," Harbaugh commented on the sixth-round pick from Illinois.
Wide receiver Malik Nabers, recovering from ACL surgery, may shed his red non-contact jersey this week, although Harbaugh noted it is not a necessity with the regular season opener still three weeks away. Rookie cornerback Colton Hood (quad) and rookie right guard Sisi Mauigoa (stinger) are expected to return to practice this week.