Giants beat Jets 23-6 to close preseason 2-1 as Calvin Austin III's season ends with a torn ACL
Najee Harris played his first game since tearing his Achilles tendon, Austin was hurt at Tuesday's practice, and the Giants have less than 48 hours to cut to 53.
The New York Giants beat the New York Jets 23-6 in their preseason finale Friday at MetLife Stadium, closing the exhibition schedule 2-1 under coach John Harbaugh. The score by quarter was 7-3-3-10 for the Giants and 6-0-0-0 for the Jets, per Bleacher Report's box score.
The NFL published full highlights of the game:
Running back Najee Harris played his first game since tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 3 of last season with the Los Angeles Chargers, ClutchPoints reported. He carried 11 times for 39 yards, including a 20-yard catch-and-run, Giants.com's game recap shows. The Giants managed his workload deliberately in the finale, more concerned with how he responded physically than what he produced on the stat sheet, per ClutchPoints.
Jameis Winston started at quarterback with Jaxson Dart rested, going 4-of-9 for 64 yards with an interception, Giants.com reported. Backup Jake Haener threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Gipson and was reported to have outplayed fellow backup Brandon Allen, per gmenhq's recap of the game.
Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. carried four times for 37 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown run and a 16-yard run, Yahoo Sports reported. He was evaluated for a concussion and cleared to return, Giants.com noted.
Harbaugh named kicker Dominic Zvada the winner of the team's kicking competition after the game, a decision GiantsGator reported Friday night. The Athletic's Dan Duggan captured Harbaugh's comments on X:
Zvada went 3-for-3 on field goals in the finale, from 53, 46 and 23 yards, and finished the preseason 5-for-5, Giants.com's recap shows.
Asked directly whether wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had done enough to make the roster, Harbaugh gave a one-word answer, The Athletic's Dan Duggan reported from the coach's postgame availability — GiantsGator covered the exchange separately.
"Yes."
Beckham finished the finale with three catches on six targets for 53 yards, Giants.com reported. He nearly turned a deep target into a touchdown; the pass was overthrown and the ball came loose as he dove for it, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan.
On defense, edge rusher Trace Ford recorded five tackles, three tackles for loss, two passes defensed and a sack, per Giants.com. Linebacker Zaire Barnes intercepted a pass in the second quarter, and outside linebacker Khalid Kareem had 1.5 sacks, the same recap shows.
Wide receiver Calvin Austin III's season is over. He tore his ACL in a non-contact injury at Tuesday's practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center and was placed on injured reserve, Giants.com reported.
"He was playing so well ... especially just a non-contact type of an injury, it's just kind of shocking to see. So, you feel bad for him," Harbaugh said.
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy called the injury "a blow" and said "the next guy has got to step up and play," per Giants.com.
NFL clubs, including the Giants, must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players from the offseason limit of 90 by 6 p.m. ET Sunday, Giants.com reported. The Giants open the regular season Sept. 13 at home against the Dallas Cowboys at 8:20 p.m. on NBC's Sunday Night Football, per the NFL's 2026 schedule release.