Last summer, Darnell Mooney felt like he was on top of the world. He said he felt it was time to take over after a 2024 campaign with 992 receiving yards.
But on the first play of Falcons training camp, Mooney broke his collarbone. Then, after recovering and making his season debut in Week 2, he sustained a hamstring injury in Week 4 and was sidelined for another two games. On an Atlanta team that also dealt with quarterback uncertainty, Mooney finished with just 443 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
With the Giants, though, Mooney, now healthy and still just 28 years old, has a chance at a reset. He’s part of a group of veteran wideouts competing for the final spots and has flashed chemistry with quarterback Jaxson Dart. He spent the first two years of his career in offensive coordinator Matt Nagy’s system when Nagy was head coach of the Bears.
“I mean, I can just be here,” Mooney said when asked about his health and how it impacted last year. “I can just be here in this moment and continue just to be in this situation.”
Mooney, on a one-year deal, is fighting for roles and roster spots with Calvin Austin III, Isaiah Hodgins, Braxton Berrios, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Odell Beckham Jr. and Jalin Hyatt. He has upside, too, as he ranked eighth in the NFL for average depth of target last season (14.4 yards), according to Pro Football Focus.
“There’s some of the things that I’ve played with, the plays, he’s done my first two years in the league,” Mooney said of playing in Nagy’s system. “He’s got some new plays, but everything’s kind of picking up speed from familiarity.”
The Giants facility renovations — set to include a locker room stretching more than 6,000 square feet and a weight room spanning more than 11,000 square feet — have forced them to use a temporary locker room in a tent-like structure in a parking lot. Renovations aren’t expected to be completed until 2028. And, as John Harbaugh said, “It’s not Taj Mahal over there.”
“I can’t sit here and lie to you and say it doesn’t [impact operations],” Harbaugh said. “It does. … We have to make it better. It’s as good as we could do right now, but you kind of learn real quick what you need. … So, we’re going to be in here for probably two seasons so they can build this over here. It’s going to be incredible.”
Center John Michael Schmitz Jr. missed practice again due to a concussion, and Harbaugh said that Bryan Hudson has “risen to the occasion so far” as Schmitz’s replacement. … Dart’s foot got stepped on during practice, but he was OK. … The Giants signed defensive back JT Woods and released defensive lineman Sam Roberts.
OLB Abdul Carter missed practice with a hand/finger injury, but he’s expected to “probably” return Tuesday, according to Harbaugh. … Smith-Schuster (knee) and OL Lucas Patrick (knee) didn’t practice. … DL Chauncey Golston was being evaluated after his head hit the turf and he left early. … CB Greg Newsome II, who left practice Saturday after a non-contact knee scare, is “gonna be fine,” Harbaugh said. … Hyatt appeared to get injured on the final play of practice and the team gathered around him, but Harbaugh expected him to be fine.
