The New York Giants' season opener is two weeks away and with no actual preseason games to prepare the team, head coach Joe Judge says that the next few practices will be key for the players and new staff.

“I don’t care how many years you have experience at any position – coordinator, assistant, head coach, doesn’t matter. Look, no one in the league has called a game. No one in the league has executed a game plan since February, so for all of us, it’s getting our own minds ready for the situations that are going to come up,” says Judge.

This is the last week for the coaching staff to look at players before having to cut the roster down from 80 players to 53. Judge says that he evaluates his players not based on their experience, but rather what they can do for the team long-term.

“You can’t survive on pacifiers. You can’t have a guy out there because he knows what to do right now and may have a general edge on somebody because they have experience. Ultimately, you have to see the upside of somebody and what you can develop the into,” says Judge.

Some of the players say that this week breeds a healthy competition, especially among the players fighting for more playing time.

“You know, we’re going to go out and it’s going to be that way until the coaches let you guys know and lets us know who the starter is and you can ask Judge that question if you want,” says center Nick Gates.

“First impressions are everything with this new coaching staff. You want to make sure you’re on your Ps and Qs, make sure that you’re doing the right things and also just being focused, coming to work every day with the mindset of just being great,” says running back Wayne Gallman.

As for injury updates, receiver Golden Tate, linebacker Blake Martinez, tackle R.J. McIntosh and safety Montre Hartage all left Monday’s practice hurt.

The NFL deadline to get down to the 53-man roster is Saturday at 4 p.m.