Tyrod Taylor feels ‘comfortable’ in extended starting run for Giants
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This is not all-new for Tyrod Taylor, but it has been a minute.
He makes his third consecutive start at quarterback Sunday, again filling in for injured Daniel Jones.
The last time Taylor started as many as three straight games was in 2021 with the Texans, when he replaced Davis Mills in Weeks 9-12, going 1-3 in his four-start run.
“Obviously, the best experience, I say, is playing,’’ Taylor said. “If the opportunity presents itself this week, as far as the rhythm, I mean, yes, I would love to go out there and do something.
“I feel comfortable in our offense. I feel comfortable with the playmakers that we have outside. It’s up to me, obviously, to get the ball to those guys, so just trying to spread it around as much as possible, and a lot of those guys create plays.’’
Given the uncertain update offered by coach Brian Daboll as to when and if Jones might return, Taylor could be inhabiting the starting role for weeks to come.
In his two starts for the Giants, Taylor has completed 65 percent of his passes for 479 yards and two touchdowns.
This summer contained the annual Giants-Jets preseason game, but it came with a twist.
The Giants used their backups in the first quarter and throughout the game, and the Jets used their starters for a few series.
“You don’t run a lot in the preseason,’’ Daboll said. “It’s good to have it on tape to see some of those guys. We practiced against them last year, too. Obviously, played them in the preseason. But relative to scheme and things like that, I would say it was pretty basic offensively. We pressured a little bit defensively that game, but it was pretty basic stuff.’’
Given the shaky state of the punt return job, it would be no surprise if Gunner Olszewski is elevated from the practice squad.
Olszewski, 26, was a first-team All-Pro as a returner in 2020 with the Patriots, and he has extensive experience — 75 punt returns in his NFL career, averaging 12 yards per return.
He also has pronounced ball-security concerns, with nine career fumbles — five in three seasons with the Patriots and four the past two seasons with the Steelers.
He was released by the Steelers on Oct. 21 after fumbling on one punt return and misplaying a kickoff return, stepping out of bounds on the 10-yard line.
Justin Pugh was getting into real estate investing as he rehabbed from a torn ACL and contemplated getting back into the NFL.
Now that he is back in the game, starting at left tackle for the Giants, the 33-year-old has not lost his eye for a business opportunity.
After announcing on the television broadcast he was “straight off the couch’’ in his 2023 debut two weeks ago against the Bills, he was contacted by Lovesac, the “Designed for Life” furniture company.
Pugh said he was able to get 17 Lovesac sac chairs and gave one to every offensive lineman, making sure to save one chair for GM Joe Schoen.
Pugh said during his first stay with the Giants (2013-17) he recalled Odell Beckham Jr. receiving all sorts of merchandise from sponsors and always making sure to negotiate deals so that his teammates would also get to share in the bounty.
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