New York Giants have rough day to open training camp

The New York Giants are trying to defy the experts and have a great 2019 season. Not a great start.

On Thursday, the New York  Giants watched as rookie quarterback Daniel Jones threw six incompletions to start his career. Afterwards, it was announced wide receiver Sterling Shepard will be out on a week-to-week basis with a broken thumb sustained in the practice.

Neither issue is terminal to the season’s dreams. Although, it’s a tough start for a team in need of some positive momentum. Jones is already largely seen as one of the biggest reaches in recent draft memory. The Giants took him at No. 6 overall instead of defensive tackle Ed Oliver or edge rusher Josh Allen of Kentucky. Now, with Eli Manning likely in his last season with New York,  Jones is trying to showcase his talents. He will hope to either start at some juncture this campaign or certainly to lead off 2020.

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As for Shepard, he’s primed to step into the top receiving role with the trade of Odell Beckham Jr., sending him to the Cleveland Browns this offseason. Shepard is entering his fourth NFL season. While he’s been a nice sidekick to Beckham, he’s entering a new phase of his time with the Giants. If Shepard doesn’t prove to be highly productive for Manning or Jones, it will be near impossible for New York to throw effectively to the outside.

Looking at the depth chart, the New York Giants are in dire need of the offense to start quickly and stay hot. The defense is undergoing a complete overhaul, with very few proven players at any of the three levels. Perhaps the only hope for a stout unit are players like outside linebacker Markus Golden, who came over in free agency by way of the Arizona Cardinals. Golden notched 12.5 sacks in 2016 but. has been hampered by injuries since, only netting 2.5 sacks over the past two seasons.

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However, those thoughts belong in September. For now, New York has to hope Shepard heels quickly and can be back in time for its Week 1 date with the Dallas Cowboys. As for Jones, time is on his side. The cliche is tired but also a cliche for a reason. A first-round rookie doesn’t often get to sit and watch while honing his skills. It’s likely Jones will have at least few months if not the entire year.

Hopefully those first six throws are bad luck, and not a bad omen.