Giants OTAs Notebook: Third-round pick Josh Ezeudu gets look at left tackle

Third-round pick Josh Ezeudu, an offensive guard from North Carolina, played first-team left tackle in Thursday’s live team drills with Andrew Thomas continuing to nurse a surgically repaired left ankle. Ezeudu started 20 games at left guard, six at left tackle and two at right tackle for the Tar Heels.

GM Joe Schoen said when he drafted Ezeudu that they liked his “guard-tackle flex” and that he would “compete to start probably inside, with outside flex.” So the Giants are evaluating him at both spots.

Korey Cunningham had been at left tackle with the first-team last week. And veteran tackle Matt Gono wasn’t on the practice field at all Thursday.

No. 7 overall pick Evan Neal, the projected starting right tackle, hasn’t shifted over to the left side in Thomas’ absence, reinforcing the Giants’ early commitment to him on the right side.

Thomas, still wearing a red jersey, wasn’t able to run very well while participating in some drills as the first-team left tackle. But he’s expected to be ready for the season.

PRACTICE NOTES: FIGHT AND FLIGHT

During the second-team’s 11-on-11 period, edge rusher Quincy Roche and left tackle Korey Cunningham got in a full blown fistfight. Cunningham punched Roche’s helmet off at one point, and players from both sidelines came out onto the field to break up the fray. Head coach Brian Daboll sent both players to the sideline. Roche, who is now out of the red jersey, had an active practice with at least one sack. Outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins was asked if he was encouraged or discouraged by Roche’s intensity on that play. “So it was a great pass rush. Really good inside move on the pass rush there,” Wilkins said. “I’m gonna let Dabes cover the rest of that. You’re gonna get me in trouble. We’ve got a long weekend coming up.” …

Daniel Jones hit Darius Slayton for a touchdown down the right sideline after Slayton beat No. 1 corner Adoree Jackson deep. Later, Jackson intercepted Jones and took it to the house when wideout Richie James slipped on an out route. Jackson said “it hurts” to lose James Bradberry and it “sucks” that he signed with the rival Philadelphia Eagles, but he’s committed to improving and stepping up this fall. ...

Jones connected several times with rookie second-round pick Wan’Dale Robinson. Robinson made the catch of the day in individual drills, hauling in a Jones bomb in the back of the end zone with Aaron Robinson draped in coverage. …

Edge Jihad Ward punched the ball out of Saquon Barkley’s hands in the middle of the field after a short completion. Martindale brought Ward from Baltimore for his high energy level and ability to punish opponents. “He’s the Broad Street Bully for us,” Wilkins said. “From Philadelphia. He’s the guy you put out there … he’s gonna beat up whoever’s on that edge. He’s gonna knock it back, understand that he’s a game-wrecker out there. Then he can kick inside on third down and be a versatile inside rusher.” …

Wideout Kadarius Toney, who is rehabbing in a red jersey from an arthroscopic knee procedure, received a lot of attention while catching passes during early special teams work. At one point, he had three coaches throwing him the ball and coaching him at once: wide receivers coach Mike Groh, offensive assistant Cade Knox and director of coaching operations Laura Young. Daboll also chipped in at one point. Toney did not practice. …

Former NFL receiver Steve Smith was on the field, wearing Giants gear, helping to coach the defensive backs and filming some kind of show. He has relationships on this new staff, but he isn’t joining the Giants’ coaching staff, despite the odd Twitter prank he pulled on Thursday announcing that he’d been hired. …

The Giants waived DB Jordan Mosley.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Don’t go to DoorDash to find a backup corner.” — Martindale on what he learned coaching the injury-riddled 2021 Ravens defense