The ball was up in the air, the pass intended for Wan’Dale Robinson, slightly underthrown by Russell Wilson. This situation has not always or even often gone well for Deonte Banks.
This time, it did.
The third-year cornerback read the play correctly, was in the right place at the right time, tracked the ball, met it full speed and came away with the interception.
It has been an up-and-down summer for Banks, but Wednesday was one of his better training camp practices.
Banks and Cor’Dale Flott are listed as co-starters on the first unofficial depth chart issued by the Giants, the only position designated with two players for one spot.
The front office and coaching staff are adamant that Banks, the 2023 first-round pick, is not going to be handed anything after his disappointing second NFL season.
Banks and Flott have alternated snaps with the first-team defense, but Flott has not been able to stay on the field, missing time this week with an undisclosed injury.
That absence has allowed Banks to vault to the lead in the battle for the starting job opposite veteran free agent addition Paulson Adebo.
“I think they’re both doing a really good job,’’ defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said. “Obviously, Flott’s missed a little bit of time here the past couple days, but I think they’re doing a really good job. I like the growth of Tae. I think competition’s been good for both of them. I really do.’’
Tight end Theo Johnson got a step on Banks and came away with a catch, with Banks slapping his hands together, sensing he was on the scene but did not prevent the completion.
Later, Banks displayed tight coverage on Jalin Hyatt on a deep route and got a pass breakup on the play.
“He’s been able to get his hands on footballs more, I feel like, this early on in training camp,’’ Bowen said. “More so than what it was last year. He’s working. He’s working. He’s competing for the job. He’s trying to earn it, just like everybody else is trying to earn their play time. I thought Flott was doing a really good job. From the spring to now, he was probably one of the guys that had the most pass breakups. So just continue that competition.’’
It comes as no surprise that the effervescent Wilson wants to play Saturday in the preseason opener at Buffalo.
“I always want to be out there with my teammates, man,’’ Wilson said. “I’m excited to get going, if Coach [Brian Daboll] lets us play or whatever it is, I’m ready to go. I’m ready to play.’’
There was a minor dustup when RB Jonathan Ward was not happy when DL D.J. Davidson continued the play far down the field, and Ward let Davidson know about it.
S Makari Paige nearly came away with an interception on a pass that deflected off TE Thomas Fidone II. Paige punished himself by hitting the grass for pushups.
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