Deonte Banks: Everything you need to know

Banks played in 16 games (six starts) during the 2025 campaign, tallying 31 tackles and five defensed passes. He also returned 19 kickoffs for 622 yards and a touchdown. After starting each of the first 29 regular-season games of his NFL career, Banks couldn't hold onto a starting role last season, as Paulson Adebo and Cor'Dale Flott (knee) emerged as the Giants' starting outside cornerbacks when healthy. That unsurprisingly resulted in Banks logging career-low marks in defensive snaps (457), tackles (31) and defensed passes (five). Banks did, however, get his first professional action as a kick returner, and the highlight of his campaign was a 95-yard kick-return TD in Week 17. Banks will be in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract in 2026, and given his reduction in defensive playing time last year, it seems unlikely New York will pick up his fifth-year option.

Banks (shoulder) does not have an injury designation for Sunday's Week 17 contest against the Raiders. Banks managed a shoulder injury this week and was labeled as limited all three days of practice. However, he's avoided an injury designation and will be able to take the field Sunday. Banks could draw a start at cornerback if Cor'Dale Flott (knee, questionable) is unable to play.

Banks (shoulder) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports. Banks likely picked up the injury during the Giants' Week 16 loss to the Vikings, when he played 33 snaps (25 on defense, eight on special teams) without showing up on the box score otherwise. It doesn't appear to be a serious injury given his ability to log a limited practice Wednesday, and Banks would avoid an injury designation altogether for Sunday's game against the Raiders if he were to log a full practice by Friday.