Giants cornerback Deonte Banks on Friday confirmed why he was benched during Monday night's loss at the Steelers, which dropped his team to 2-6.
He said after the game that he believed it was because of poor tackling. On Friday, he was asked if he had received any clarity on the reason for his benching.
"Yeah, that's what it was -- tackling," he said.
Banks made it through just three series in Pittsburgh. A week earlier, against the Eagles, he showed terrible effort while chasing Jalen Hurts. And three games before that, Banks let up while running after CeeDee Lamb on a touchdown catch.
Yet the Giants started him in Pittsburgh -- clearly because of cornerback attrition. (Cor'Dale Flott and Adoree' Jackson were sidelined for the game.) Despite the benching in Pittsburgh, Banks will be back in the starting lineup Sunday at home against the Commanders.
Secondary coach Jerome Henderson spoke passionately earlier Friday about how he advocated for the Giants to drafted Banks 24th overall last year -- and how he wants to see more from Banks. Henderson said Banks was benched for "multiple reasons" in Pittsburgh.
Henderson also said Banks will start against the Commanders "because we think he gives us the best chance to win" -- and also because the coaching staff thinks (or at least hopes) Banks has finally learned his lesson about playing consistently hard and well.
"Hopefully, he got the message from the Pittsburgh game," Henderson said.
Banks said later Friday that he has indeed gotten the message.
"Yeah, it was received," he said. "I've just got to do more."
What does he think about his coaches starting him again so soon after the benching?
"It just shows they have confidence in me," he said.
He is well aware that Henderson advocated for him before last year's draft.
"He always tells me that," Banks said. "It's all on us. I win, he wins. I lose, he loses. We're together. We're a unit. Got to stay together."
So how does Banks plan to fix his tackling this week?
"Just try to go out there and play better," he said. "That's really all it is. Run to the ball more, make my angles better. Stuff like that."