Eli Manning
(Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning was on fire during Monday’s practice and looks to be in midseason form.

The New York Giants were back practicing in pads on Monday as they prepare for Friday’s preseason game against the New York Jets.

The starters are expected to play at least the first half in their third preseason game on Friday as it is the dress rehearsal for the regular season.

One player that already appears to be in regular season form is quarterback Eli Manning. Manning was accurate during practice on Monday, especially when throwing to tight end Evan Engram.

Many feel Manning is poised to have one of the better seasons of his illustrious career, and based on how he’s performed in training camp they’re right.

Saquon Barkley was in attendance at practice but once again did not participate as he continues to recover from the hamstring he tweaked a week ago. In his place veteran running back, Jonathan Stewart took reps with the first team offense.

With the Giants thin at running back with Barkley’s hamstring and Jalen Simmons still in concussion protocol, the Giants brought in Jhurrell Pressley who wore number 27 in practice. Pressley took reps with the second-team offense and ran back kickoffs.

Pressley played at the University of New Mexico from 2012-2015 and rushed for 2,725 yards and scored 36 touchdowns. Despite averaging 6.9 yards per carry in college, he went undrafted in 2016.

Head coach Pat Shurmur is familiar with Pressley as the back was in Vikings training camp in 2016 when Shurmur was the tight ends coach/offensive coordinator. Pressley was one of the finals cuts the Vikings made prior to the 2016 season.

After practice, Shurmur was asked about Pressley

“I was with him before. Good runner, fast, tough guy. We brought him in, he’s got some familiarity with what we do offensively, and we’ll get him in the mix.”

In Sunday’s practice, Ray-Ray Armstrong took reps with the first team defense and B.J. Goodson took reps with the second team. On Monday Goodson was back taking reps with the first team defense and Armstrong ran with the second team.

Other news and notes

As he’s done often throughout training camp, Odell Beckham Jr. was once again returning kickoffs along with Sterling Shepard, and Kalif Raymond. It’s becoming apparent that Beckham will run back some kicks this season in crucial points in games.

Prior to practice ending, Aldrick Rosas converted on one of two field goal attempts. Rosas was inconsistent last season converting on 18 out of 25 field goal attempts. The Giants may decide to bring in placekicker Kai Forbath who was cut by the Minnesota Vikings on Monday to compete with Rosas. Shurmur is familiar with Forbath from his time with the Vikings from 2016-2017.

Last season Forbath converted on 32 out of 38 field goal attempts.

Jason's first love was football while growing up in northern New Jersey. For the past three years, he has covered the New York Giants, as well as several boxing events along the East Coast.