James Hudson joined the Giants this season as a swing tackle. They probably didn’t expect him to swing his emotions as a fire starter on the field.
Hudson, signed this offseason, tussled Brian Burns to the ground during a fight in OTAs this spring. On Monday during 1-on-1 drills, Hudson clubbed Kayvon Thibodeaux to the ground and both had to be separated.
The mean energy sent a message, but Hudson is no angry giant. He calmly noted his emotion comes from being sidelined with a season-ending shoulder injury after four games last season.
“Had a torn labrum that I ended up getting fixed rather earlier than later,” Hudson told Newsday Thursday. “Just missing that time, man, I had a lot of time to sit down, think, reevaluate things and just my mindset.”
“Every time that I take the field, I just play with the utmost energy and attitude and just try to put my best foot forward . . . and leave nothing in the tank.”
The injury ended his tenure with the Browns, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2021. The Giants signed him this summer to a two-year, $12 million contract and so far he’s been a spark, even it means charging up his defensive counterparts.
With Andrew Thomas injured and on the PUP list, Hudson has taken first-team reps at left tackle. He was signed to be a swing tackle but now he’s got the important role of protecting Russell Wilson and dealing with Burns and Thibodeaux coming at him.
Even if things get intense, the battles have been beneficial.
“It definitely turns me up even more,” Hudson said. “But it makes me lock in. Yeah we’re chirping but when we line up at the line of scrimmage, I got to lock in and know what it is I have to do on that play for my technique.”
His intensity even carries over in meetings. Coach Brian Daboll said he tries to get Hudson to smile every day but it doesn’t always work.
Right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said Hudson’s edge sometimes has to be reined in or “he’ll just dive off the edge of a boat.” But Eluemunor also welcomed what helps raise the standard for the offensive line.
“He’s just out there trying to get better and he’s taking it upon himself to truly set the tone, which we love,” Eluemunor said. “For us to be the offensive line we want to be this year, you got to have guys like that on the team so we’re happy to have him.”
The shoulder injury might have motivated Hudson but he also credited a former teammate for inspiration: Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett.
Facing a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year for four years, Hudson learned in practice to be just as aggressive as the player rushing him.
“He’s a guy that doesn’t take plays off. He just pushes you and forces you to get better,” Hudson said, referring to Garrett. “It’s either get better or you’re going to get embarrassed. I just bring that here and it’s working out.”
If another fight breaks out in camp, don’t be surprised if Hudson is in the middle of it. At the same time, his play has filled a valuable role with Thomas out. He’s learning to harness his aggressiveness, but his approach has fit in well up front.
Call him “The Enforcer,” if you will, but understand why Hudson has his fury. He can just look at his shoulder to remember why he’s carrying that extra attitude.
“I had the edge before,” Hudson said. “But with that being my first time having surgery and really missing a significant time . . . I feel like it just lit a different fire.”
Nabers returns
Malik Nabers was back at practice taking first-team reps after leaving Tuesday with a shoulder injury. He didn’t miss a beat, catching a 50-yard pass from Wilson while falling down after freeing himself from tight coverage by Cor’Dale Flott.
Nabers wasn’t the only receiver returning. Jalin Hyatt and Wan’Dale Robinson were back in team drills after being sidelined most of the week.
Blue notes
Rookie defensive tackle Darius Alexander split reps with the first and second team due to several absences. Fellow tackle D.J. Davidson was away due to a personal matter, Daboll said, and it was unrelated to his apparent hamstring injury suffered Tuesday. Elijah Chatman and Jordon Riley were also not on the field for undisclosed reasons . . . Right guard Greg Van Roten was away for the birth of his second child so Evan Neal took over first-team reps.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.