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Maybe Baker Mayfield really was surprised when the Giants drafted Daniel Jones sixth overall. But nobody should be shocked anymore.

The 22-year-old rookie quarterback continued his stellar preseason by putting on another show in the Giants' third preseason game in Cincinnati on Thursday night. He completed 9-of-11 passes for 141 yards, playing the final 20 minutes of the first half.

Through three games, he's 25-of-30 (83.3 percent) for 369 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. That's a passer rating of 140.1.

In addition to missing the first four games of the regular season due to a suspension for taking a banned substance he said was for fertility, Giants WR Golden Tate is now in concussion protocol.

Tate was targeted twice and reeled in one catch during Friday night's game against the Bears, with head coach Pat Shurmur saying on Sunday that Tate suffered the injury at some point during the game. 

The Giants' fifth game of the regular season -- the one Tate is eligible to return for -- is Oct. 6 against the Vikings.

Shortly after he fractured his left thumb July 25, Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard was steadfast in his belief that he would return for the Sept. 8 opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

More than three weeks later, Shepard's outlook remains optimistic.

Seen without his non-contact yellow jersey Sunday afternoon at Giants practice -- the first time since the injury -- Shepard showed further signs of progression as he works back for the 2019 season.

With the Giants' receivers depleted entering the season, many have wondered if GM Dave Gettleman would find a way to bolster the group before the start of the season. So far, that hasn't been the case, but there are options out there. 

One of them is Vikings WR Laquon Treadwell, who SI's Albert Breer reported as on the market. Treadwell, a former first-round pick back in 2016, hasn't really panned out in Minnesota. However, he does have a Giants connection in Pat Shurmur, which is why NJ.com's Matt Lombardo brought up the idea that Gettleman may want to call the Vikings on the Ole Miss product. 

Treadwell shouldn't cost too much for the Giants, which is a pro in this case. Being that he hasn't lived up to his first-round choice, the Giants could probably get him for a late-round draft pick. Also, maybe a change of scenery is what Treadwell needs with the Giants, as he's currently stuck behind elite receivers in Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - When the Giants scouted Daniel Jones they were convinced he had a little Eli Manning in him. They saw that same calm, even-keeled personality that Manning has - the ability to appear unflappable when things start to go wrong.

On Friday, Jones showed them they were right.

Checking the box score after the Giants' first preseason bout against the Jets last Thursday, it wasn't Cody Latimer, Bennie Fowler, or Russell Shepard that led the receivers columns. 

It was TJ Jones. 

The five-year veteran, who spent all his NFL seasons with the Lions after being drafted in the sixth round back in 2014, finished the night with six receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown. His score came on a back-shoulder pass from Alex Tanney that Jones tracked down perfectly and fell into the end zone to tally six points on the board. 

The news surrounding Giants camp this week is WR Golden Tate having to serve his full four-game suspension for violating the league's PED policy. 

Tate was confident that the details in his case would have the suspension exonerated, but that wasn't the case given the league's no tolerance mindset when it comes to PEDs. The veteran wideout explained that he let the NFL know immediately when he found out there was a banned substance in the prescription, yet that wasn't enough to change his verdict. 

"I just thought, after we looked at the facts in the situation, that the NFL would be understanding," Tate said. "But because it's a no-tolerance policy, they, I guess, upheld the suspension."

One day after Golden Tate received his appeal fate from the NFL, which upheld the Giants wide receiver's four-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, he opened up on the decision following Wednesday's practice.

Among his comments, Tate said he is considering taking legal action against the doctor who prescribed him the drug.

"We are definitely looking into it, we are kind of examining all of our options," Tate said.

Golden Tate will officially be serving his four-game suspension for violating the NFL's PED policy, as he has lost his appeal.

Back in April, Tate failed a drug test, which came about a month after he signed his four-year, $37.5 million deal with the Giants. The reason for failing the test came from a fertility drug that he said "contained an ingredient that is on the league's banned substance list," and noted not knowing about that when he was prescribed it by a fertility planning specialist. 

Tate said that he "immediately discontinued" the use of the drug, and reported his actions to the league's independent administrator. In fact, he did that before failing the drug test in the first place. 

The Giants' wide receiving corps has taken a big hit early on with Sterling Shepard injured, Golden Tate facing a four-game suspension, and Corey Coleman out for the season with a torn ACL. That was expected to be the top three players on the depth chart, but now things have changed here quickly in East Rutherford. 

But with the losses, other receivers are beginning to step up. 

Cody Latimer, entering his fifth year in the league, is looking to take advantage of this opportunity that will likely see him get many reps to start the season. The former second-round pick by the Broncos didn't pan out well in Denver, and after four years with the squad, they didn't mind moving on from him. 

A few weeks ago during Giants minicamp, we profiled five dark horse players who turned heads. At the end of the day though, every football player knows that, while minicamp standouts are nice stories, the real competition starts in training camp.

Big Blue training camp starts in a little over two weeks. It's a 90-man competition for 53 spots, and more than a few veterans will be left behind if they don't put up a good showing.

Here are five guys who are on the hot seat for the Giants: 

Say what you want about your opinion on the Giants trading away star WR Odell Beckham Jr. His former teammates miss him. 

"Just his presence," Sterling Shepard told The Post's Paul Schwartz, adding that there has been an adjustment period to get used to him not in the locker room. "He's a great guy, he's loved around this facility. Just his presence, I guess."

Beckham has always been one of a kind since entering the league, and it showed in his awe-inspiring play that was matched with an exuberant personality as well. Whether it was making his signature one-handed grabs like it was just another day on the gridiron, or dancing in around practice with players like Shepard and Saquon Barkley, Beckham was always keeping things light and fun. 

After a tornado exerted severe damage on Dayton, Ohio, and the surrounding areas, Cody Latimer returned to his hometown. 

The Giants wideout left the team after Tuesday's practice and likely won't be on the field the rest of this week during OTAs as he provides aid to Dayton residents. Latimer was born and raised in the city and still has family that resides in the area. 

According to the Dayton Daily News, Latimer is one of several professional athletes giving back to the community. The former Jefferson High School standout helped provide meals for storm victims Wednesday through a partnership with a local pizzeria. 

When Giants wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert walked to the podium during coaches availability on Wednesday, it was expected the slew of Odell Beckham Jr. questions were going to come his way. But with him now on the Browns, Tolbert wanted to talk about who he actually will be coaching in the new season.

"I'm going to say this about Odell, I don't want this to be an Odell Q/A," Tolbert said affirmatively. "Odell was a great player for us, with the Giants. We all love Odell, we respect him as a player and wish him nothing but the best with the Cleveland Browns."

For the Giants, though, it isn't as simple as replacing Beckham in the offense this season. He had over 1,000 yards receiving in four of the last five seasons, and was Eli Manning's favorite target when he was on the field. 

Scott Thompson, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The 2019 NFL Draft is over, and the Giants have made all of their picks to bring in prospects they believe can impact them for years to come. It will be fun to watch as these rookies join the veterans at camp this preseason to see who will earn a spot on the 53-man roster, and who will be starting at the end of the day. 

Between the new rookies and veterans, here are some position battles to watch in the new year...

DEPTH RECEIVERS

The Giants are rounding out their receiving corps in the wake of the Odell Beckham Jr. trade. 

The team re-signed Cody Latimer, the wide receiver announced on Twitter Sunday night. 

"Back for seconds!!!. Let's go big blue!!! Ready to get back to work with the squad!!! Time to finish what I started last season," he tweeted. 

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive

Eli Manning had a chance for some late-game magic, when he had 55 seconds to play, and all he had to do was get the Giants into field-goal range. Instead, he threw a game-sealing interception on an ill-advised pass over the middle.

But don't blame this 28-27 loss in Indianapolis on him.

WR Cody Latimer left the game for the Giants during the second half of their 34-13 loss to the Eagles with a hamstring injury.

Latimer led all Giants wide receivers with 52 yards on three catches for the night.

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: A week ago they had made so much progress. Then on Sunday, the Giants stepped back into their abyss.

Now, after their disheartening 33-18 loss to the New Orleans Saints, they are 1-3 and looking at the likelihood of yet another lost season.

Here's a look at how their specific position groups played in their Week 4 loss...

After the news broke that Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. agreed to a five-year, $95 million mega extension, social erupted with congratuations for one of the league's brightest stars. 

First, it was fellow Giants wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Roger Lewis Jr. posting videos of the celebration in the locker room following practice. And, of course, the song playing in the background had to be "For The Love of Money" by The O'Jays.

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Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: Now that Odell Beckham Jr. is planning to attend the Giants' mandatory mini-camp, a major crisis has been averted.

But that doesn't make the three-day camp any less interesting.

As the Giants continue their quick rebuild from the ashes of last year's 3-13 mess, they still have a lot of questions to answer and pieces to fit in before they get to training camp this summer. This week will begin to add some clarity to their picture...