5 things to watch during Giants' 2026 preseason play

The Giants get their preseason underway on Saturday night as they host the Minnesota Vikings in the first of three August games, ahead of the regular season opener on Sept. 13.

Here are five things to watch during the preseason...

Who will see action?

Head coach John Harbaugh has been vague about his plan for who will play in the opener and who will be rested, but it seems likely he will get almost everyone some work over the next three games.

That may not be the case for some of the players who are nursing or returning from injuries, though. While wide receiver Malik Nabers has reportedly looked good in practice, the team should be reluctant to risk a setback during preseason action. Running back Cam Skattebo is in a similar situation.

If quarterback Jaxson Dart doesn't start Saturday night's game, backup Jameis Winston would take the reins.

A different system on defense

Harbaugh taking over means big changes on the defensive side of the ball, with the Giants now expected to operate primarily out of a 3-4 base.

For players like Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Darius Alexander this could mean some slight tweaks to their roles and alignments, so we could get an early insight into how they might respond to this.

Carter in particular could respond well to the change because he was used in a variety of ways last season. As for Kayvon Thibodeaux, could preseason represent a chance to showcase him with the potential for a trade on the horizon?

The battle at the cornerback positions

One of the more surprising position battles this offseason has been at cornerback, where veteran Paulson Adebo's struggles have opened the door for Deonte Banks and Greg Newsome II to play more significant roles.

Harbaugh has been putting a positive spin on the competition, but Banks and Newsome have had struggles of their own in recent seasons so it remains to be seen if this position is an area of concern for New York.

If the first unit secondary looks vulnerable in preseason, the Giants might even be compelled to make another trade or signing before the regular season gets underway.

May 21, 2026; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants linebacker Arvell Reese (52) participates in a drill during organized team activities at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. / John Jones-Imagn Images

A first look at the two first-round picks

On a more positive note, Giants fans will be excited to get their first look at first round picks Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa.

Reese has already flashed on a regular basis in camp and looks set to make an impact both as a full-time off-ball linebacker and in the pass rush, as advertised.

Mauigoa has been settling into a new position at right guard, so he will see his first in-game reps within that role. Veterans John Michael Schmitz and Jermaine Eluemunor will play an important role either side of him in terms of helping him feel comfortable.

The return of Odell Beckham Jr.

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is a Giants legend but he returns to his former team in a very different situation, battling for a roster spot.

So far, training camp has been positive for Beckham, who has been getting some first-team reps with Nabers' workload having been limited, but has been listed on the third unit according to the team's unofficial depth chart.

There are plenty of current Giants players with legitimate NFL experience and some promising youngsters on the rise, so Beckham has a fight on his hands just to make the roster, let alone to crack the rotation.