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When Daniel Jones makes his first start for the Giants on Thursday night, he won't have many starters around him. For nearly every key player on the team, the preseason is over.
The preseason finale in New England is all about the backups, and dozens of players still fighting for roster spots.
Who will make it and who won't? Here's a pregame look at the Giants' projected 53-man roster, which could change considerably depending on how their game against the Patriots goes:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Eli Manning, Daniel Jones, Alex Tanney
Kyle Lauletta's chance at being the future disappeared when Jones was taken sixth overall. And Giants coach Pat Shurmur surely wants a veteran like Tanney on the roster behind Manning, just in case a quarterback switch is needed and Jones isn't quite ready to go
RUNNING BACKS (4): Saquon Barkley, Wayne Gallman, Rod Smith, Eli Penny
No one really stood out in the battle for the third running back spot, so Smith might win it just based on experience. That means the end of Paul Perkins' once-promising Giants career. Penny sticks because he's the lone fullback.
TIGHT ENDS (4): Evan Engram, Rhett Ellison, Scott Simonson, C.J. Conrad
The Giants just re-signed Simonson to a deal that helps their salary cap situation when they didn't really need the help, which seems to be an indication that he's sticking around. Conrad, the undrafted rookie from Kentucky, has been giving second-year pro Garrett Dickerson quite a fight.
WIDE RECEIVER (7): Sterling Shepard, Cody Latimer, Bennie Fowler, Russell Shepard, Darius Slayton, TJ. Jones, Brittan Golden
The suspension to Golden Tate thinned out this group, so they may have to carry seven with Slayton still nursing a hamstring injury. First-year pro Alonzo Russell will be a tough cut, but the Giants need as much experience here as they can get.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Nate Solder, Will Hernandez, Jon Halapio, Kevin Zeitler, Mike Remmers, Spencer Pulley, Chris Slade, Brian Mihalik
There's depth and experience here, which is unusual for the Giants. It's also why Chad Wheeler, who made 14 starts at right tackle last season, is suddenly expendable.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): B.J. Hill, Dalvin Tomlinson, Dexter Lawrence, Olsen Pierre, R.J. McIntosh, Chris Slayton
There is a ton of youth here, and a bunch of relatively high draft picks. Pierre, at 28, is the old man and had a quiet summer, but his experience is badly needed.
LINEBACKERS (8): Kareem Martin, Lorenzo Carter, Markus Golden, Oshane Ximines, Tae Davis, Alec Ogletree, Ryan Connelly, Nate Stupar
The writing has been on the wall all summer for B.J. Goodson, the former starting middle linebacker. He's probably a better player than Stupar, but Stupar's value on special teams gives him the last spot.
CORNERBACKS (5): Janoris Jenkins, DeAndre Baker, Grant Haley, Corey Ballentine, Sam Beal
The mystery here is Beal, the supplemental draft pick from a year ago who has been out with injuries ever since. He could be headed to injured reserve to start the season, but he's got to survive the final cuts first. Once he goes to IR, the Giants could fill his spot with someone they cut.
SAFETIES (5): Jabrill Peppers, Antoine Bethea, Michael Thomas, Julian Love, Sean Chandler
These five are set in stone. The only question is how much Love and Chandler will be needed to spell the older veterans (Bethea, Thomas) as the season goes along.
SPECIALISTS (3): K Aldrick Rosas, P Riley Dixon, LS Zak DeOssie
There's a little bit of intrigue at punter after the Giants claimed Johnny Townsend off waivers from the Raiders. That battle could be decided Thursday night, though the incumbent, Dixon, is the clear favorite.