4 matchups to watch in Lions-Giants joint practices

Here are four matchups we’re keeping an eye on during joint practices between the Detroit Lions and New York Giants.

In the days leading up to their first preseason game of 2024, the Detroit Lions will be joining the New York Giants at their practice facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey for joint practices.

Both teams have had significant additions on their respective rosters this offseason, and there will be some very interesting matchups to watch for over the two days of practices.

Detroit’s offensive tackles vs. New York’s pass rushers

Both sides of these matchups will feature players considered to be some of the best at their positions. Detroit’s Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell will not have easy assignments for Monday and Tuesday’s practices.

New York’s tandem of pass rushers include former first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux and newly-acquired, two-time Pro Bowl attendee Brian Burns.

Per ESPN’s 2023 win rate rankings , Sewell and Decker ranked sixth and seventh respectively in pass protection win percentage with rates of over 90 percent. On the other side of the ball, Burns was only able to beat opposing linemen 21 percent of the time in pass rush situations while Thibodeaux remained out of the rankings completely.

While those numbers sound very one-sided in favor of the Lions, Burns has recorded 5.0 sacks against Detroit’s offensive line in three career matchups. Thibodeaux has been much less of a factor in the Giants’ pass rush when playing the Lions, recording two tackles across 46 snaps.

With the pads on, expect there to be some heated competition on the edge for both team’s lines.

Terrion Arnold vs. Malik Nabers

The pair of first-round rookies may not have any NFL experience under their belts yet, but they do have some familiarity with one another.

The two former SEC standouts faced off against each other in 2023, and both produced some of their best stat lines of the season in that game.

While Arnold finished that game with four tackles and an interception—with some impressive man-to-man coverage against Nabers in the process—the former LSU wide receiver still managed to put up 171 yards and a touchdown against Alabama’s secondary.

Both players have put together impressive camp performances thus far, so it’s not unrealistic to think that both will be playing with a little more to prove in these upcoming joint practices.

Detroit’s special teams unit vs. New York’s return specialists

As every NFL team prepares for the league’s new kickoff rules, special teams coordinator Dave Fipp has said that the joint practices and preseason game against the Giants will be helpful in gaining a better understanding into these new procedures.

Detroit’s core special teamers include 2023 special teams leading tackler , second-team All-Pro, and Pro Bowler Jalen Reeves-Maybin as well as C.J. Moore, Malcolm Rodriguez, and Khalil Dorsey—all players who have also found their way near the top of the lists for special teams tackles over the years.

The Giants’ return specialists include 2020 All Pro Gunner Olszewski, as well as Isaiah McKenzie. Both players have carved out names for themselves as both kick and punt returners. While it is unclear how their roles may change under these new kickoff rules, they should still pose a challenge for Detroit’s kickoff and punt teams.

Jameson Williams vs. Deonte Banks and Cor’Dale Flott

There has not been a lot of positive press coming out of Giants’ training camp for New York’s starting outside cornerback tandem. Report after report from the Giants’ camp has shown the two cornerbacks struggling to defend against Nabers and others in practices.

Banks and Williams had their fair share of matchups last preseason, with some mixed results on both sides. In every snap where the two matched up against one another, Williams had a clear step or two ahead of Banks , but had issues when it came to securing the ball while facing tight coverage.

Both players have shown steady improvement since the last time they faced off against one another. Could we see the same level of physicality this time around?