EAST RUTHERFORD — Some fans must be wondering exactly what role former Cowboys defensive end Chauncey Golston is going to fill on the Giants’ defense this season.

Will he simply rotate with the Giants’ talented group of outside linebackers? Will he play on the interior line as a pass-rusher who can also help out when offenses look to double-team All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence?

“I just see myself as a football player,” Golston said this week after practice. “The best ability is availability, so you just be ready, you just learn all the spots that you need to learn, and be ready when your number is called.”

Availability has been a strength for Golston, who missed only four games in his first four NFL seasons and played every game in the past two seasons, including 11 starts for the Cowboys in 2024 with 5.5 sacks after DeMarcus Lawrence went down with a foot injury.

He won’t be starting for the Giants, barring an injury, and he won’t be playing 72 percent of the snaps on defense like he did last year. That’s the reality when you’re a depth piece on a stacked defensive front that also added Abdul Carter with the third pick in the draft.

But even when he signed a sizable three-year, $18 million contract with the Giants in March, Chauncey came in with the mindset that “nothing’s expected, everything’s earned.” So in training camp he is focusing on earning the coaches’ trust for a bigger role while taking snaps with both the first-team and second-team defense.

“We got some pretty big guys inside, and if I’m needed in there, I’m a big guy, too,” said the 6-foot-5, 277-pound Golston. “Whoever has the hot hand, you know? We got some pretty talented guys, so I’m not opposed to seeing them shine when they’re out there balling.”

Golston says Carter has been as advertised in camp and can make an immediate impact. He compared the Penn State phenom to Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons, who was in Golston’s draft class and was the 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

“He’s doing a lot of the stuff that I’ve seen from Micah when we were just coming in, like putting the entire team on notice, like, ‘Yeah, I’m a rookie, but come on now,’” Golson said. “I’m hoping that that’s where his career goes — like on that trajectory. That would be great.”

The Giants’ lethal pass-rush also features former first-round picks Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, who combined for 14 sacks last year despite Thibodeaux missing five games.

Golston has already developed a close bond with Thibodeaux during team meetings, picking up on ways that he can improve his own stab and other hand moves since he isn’t as fast as other outside linebackers.

With his versatility and being one of the better rotational pass-rushers in the league, Golston feels the potential of the Giants’ defensive front is sky high.

“To dominate,” Golston said. “We should accept nothing less than domination.”

And if that unit in fact becomes the backbone of the team this season, the Giants’ defense has a chance to be special.

“The outside linebackers, the defensive linemen, every great team needs those guys playing their best because it all works off of the rush and cover,” Golston said. “We get pressure, quarterbacks throw it crazy, we get picked sixes. Our corners, our DBs, linebackers, they lock it up, we get coverage sacks. We all play great in the run and we hold running backs to low yards per carry.”

Crisis Averted

Head coach Brian Daboll said Thursday that Malik Nabers is “good” after leaving Tuesday’s practice with a shoulder injury.

The second-year pro practiced and participated in 11-on-11 drills Thursday, but the Giants have a “plan” to scale back his reps because Nabers has also been nursing a toe injury.

“We sit down, we have a conversation, and we talk about what we think is best for each individual player based on what they have … whether that’s don’t practice, whether that’s do a little bit, do a little bit more the next day,” Daboll said. “We have discussions like that every night.”

The Giants have also been limiting reps recently for Lawrence and rookie running back Cam Skattebo.

Other Absences

Backup defensive lineman D.J. Davidson didn’t practice Thursday, but not because of the leg injury he sustained during Tuesday’s practice. Daboll said he was dealing with a personal issue.

Greg Van Roten, who is competing with Evan Neal to be the starting right guard, missed practice for the birth of his second child.

Originally Published: July 31, 2025 at 12:35 PM EDT