Unless the Giants have something planned unseen by anyone on the outside, Tae Davis will be one of their starting inside linebackers when the regular season opens Sept. 8 against the Cowboys in Arlington, Texas.
Davis, a second-year player, went undrafted in 2018 out of Tennessee-Chattanooga and did well to stick on the Giants’ roster as a rookie. The front office did not address the inside linebacker position in free agency and in the draft waited until the fifth round before taking Ryan Connelly out of Wisconsin. Connelly completed an impressive training camp that should earn him a spot on the 53-man roster. Nevertheless, vaulting him into the starting lineup, alongside veteran Alec Ogletree, is unlikely at this time.
Davis has lined up during training camp almost exclusively with the first-team defense. The coaching staff likes the way he moves in space — Davis is a converted safety — and his ability to drop back in coverage is likely the reason why he will start. The coaching staff is skeptical of B.J. Goodson’s ability as a pass defender, which is why Goodson might not make the cut after starting 20 games the past two years.
Davis played in 14 games last season, starting four of them.
“He’s gotten better,’’ coach Pat Shurmur said. “He’s improved. I think we have a lot of young players that made a lot of improvements, because they were getting way more reps a year ago than they would normally get on some rosters. He took full advantage of that, and I think it’s helped him in this camp, for sure.’’
CB Sam Beal (hamstring) continued to work on the side with trainers during the team portion of practice. … Rookie WR Darius Slayton (hamstring) did not work and will miss another preseason game Thursday night in New England. Slayton missed the first two games with hamstring issues before making his debut last week in Cincinnati. … TE Garrett Dickerson (quad), RB Rod Smith (adductor) and CB Kenny Ladler (hamstring) did not work.
Left tackle Nate Solder was not at practice; he was excused for personal reasons. … Rookie WR Alex Wesley, who has battled ankle issues, fell to the grass in a heap and writhed in pain. He later was able to get to his feet and was carted off. “His ankle has been a little sore, they’re checking it out,’’ Shurmur said.
The bleachers were gone and all remnants of training camp were packed up as the Giants practiced Tuesday, their final full session before the fourth and final preseason game — their last practice with a 90-man roster. This portion of the summer work is complete, but there was no message imparted to the players by Shurmur.
“No, not specific,’’ Shurmur said. “I do that as we go along. Today, I’m more focused on the issues of the day as we get ready to play the Patriots.’’