Nate Solder returned, at a significant cut in salary, to serve as the backup at both left and right tackle this season. The Giants wanted to see Matt Peart in his second year take a step forward and win the starting right tackle spot, but he did not do it, and Solder started Sunday in the season-opening, 27-13 loss to the Broncos at MetLife Stadium.
Solder opted out of the 2020 season, and it did not take long for him to make his presence felt. On the second offensive series, Solder was beaten on an inside move by Von Miller for a clean 8-yard sack of Daniel Jones.
Solder got a few snaps as a blocking tight end in the jumbo package as the Giants made two moves on their fourth series. Peart moved in at right tackle and Ben Bredeson replaced Shane Lemieux at right guard.
Andrew Thomas, matched up at left tackle against Malik Reed — and not Bradley Chubb, who did not play — was not a problem for the Giants. They could not generate a running game, though. Daniel Jones was sacked only one time.
Giants coach Joe Judge with Nate SolderGetty ImagesEli Manning, on Sept. 26 — Week 3 of the season — will have his No. 10 jersey retired and be inducted into the Giants Ring of Honor during a halftime ceremony of the Giants-Falcons game at MetLife Stadium.
Manning, in attendance on Sunday to see the Giants open their season against the Broncos, knows what awaits him in two weeks will be different than anything he has experienced.
“There’s already emotions kind of coming back into the stadium for the first time and when there’s a kickoff and you’re not on the sideline or you’re not running out there,’’ Manning said. “I think it will be emotional that day, just kind of one last true farewell and a thank you to the fans and the organization, all my teammates. I just kind of choose to remember the good times in this stadium and the good times in my career, and this will be another one I can add to that memory.’’
The Giants caught a break when Chubb was inactive for the Broncos with an ankle injury. … CB Sam Beal survived a summer competition to make the roster, but he was one of the Giants’ inactives. The others: WR Colin Johnson, CB Josh Jackson, LB Justin Hilliard, TE Evan Engram and LB Quincy Roche. Engram, dealing with a calf injury, moved more fluidly in warm-ups and has a chance to make it back for Thursday night’s game in Washington.
Joe Judge, on Thursday after practice, brought in first responders from the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to speak to the Giants. Included in the guests were the Andruzzi brothers. Joe Andruzzi is a former Patriots offensive lineman, and all three of his brothers were New York City firefighters who survived the attack at the World Trade Center.
