The Giants make a series of transactions before the NFL roster deadline

* Dabol was asked if wide receiver Sterling Shepherd, an eight-year veteran who is the longest serving player on the Giants, “showed you enough to prove to you that he can help this team this year.” Shepherd missed the last 14 games of the 2022 season due to a torn ACL.

“Yeah, everything we asked him to do, we had a plan for rehab and I know I talked about it with him,” Dabul said. “He’s done a great job hitting all the marks we’ve put him up to this point. Happy with where he is, the coaches have done a really good job with him and he’s done a good job himself as a player. Being ready to go I’d say he does well every time he gets the chance to go out on the field.” “Training or in the game of conscience and knowing what to do. He’s looked really good in terms of his speed and his explosiveness is back after two years with injuries, so I’m happy with where he is.”

Shepard didn’t catch a pass last night but did make one kick.

“That was the next step in his rehabilitation,” Dabul said. “To get him out there and play a few iterations in live competition and again, I told you guys last night, he can catch kicks and it would be good for him to go out there in a live event and catch a kick. Where’s he ready and what we’ve asked him to do, I’m happy with the progress he’s made.”

*Perhaps no Giants player has enjoyed a more impressive pre-season than Graham Gano. The veteran kicker made all five of his extra point attempts and all six of his field goal attempts, the shortest from 40 yards. He also hit from 42, 47, 48 and – last night – from 56 and 57 yards.

“I feel confident,” Jano said. “I feel like we’ve done a good job as a unit that’s been moving week by week. There’s always ways to improve. So, I’m always looking for that. But, yeah, I feel good with the people I work with.”

In 2022, Gano set the Giants single-season record with eight field goals of 50+ yards, one more than in 2021. He also holds the franchise career record with 20 field goals of at least 50 yards.

Gano is quick to give credit to long snapper Casey Critter and holder Jimmy Gillan.

“I think on those long trips, everything should go well,” Jano said. “I feel it often gets overlooked how well these guys do. Casey, Jamie and Block Line, everything has to go well with those, and they make me feel really comfortable out there. When a coach has the necessary confidence he sends me in for those operations, I need to do it. It’s good to go through the regular season and play some long games. It was a good process for everyone.”

*Marcus McKeithan played 20 shots as a substitute right goalkeeper. This was his first game since December 30, 2021, when he played for North Carolina vs. South Carolina in the Bank of America Bowl. The Giants’ fifth round draft pick in 2022, McKeithan tore his anterior cruciate ligament in training camp practice and missed his entire rookie season.

“It was fun, man,” McKeithan said of his long-awaited opportunity. “I enjoyed it. I had a little bit of nervousness before the game, but other than that, it was just football. It’s been a long year, but I’m finally here, so I’ve just been enjoying it, enjoying everything.”

*Dabul said dealings with Tyre Phillips and defensive linemen Ashawn Robinson and DJ Davidson didn’t play last night because they’re still in a “rehab plan”.