Brief

Giants start rookie Bryan Hudson at center after strong debut

Hudson's debut saw no quarterback pressures in 37 pass‑blocking snaps, prompting the Giants to keep him in the lineup.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 10 Oct 2026 08:20:22 GMT

New York Giants coach Matt Nagy announced that rookie center Bryan Hudson will start again after an impressive first career start against the Arizona Cardinals, according to the New York Post.

What happened

Hudson made his first start last week, taking over from John Michael Schmitz, who had started the first 44 games of his career when healthy. In the game, Hudson handled 37 pass‑blocking snaps without allowing a quarterback pressure. The Giants kept him in the lineup for the upcoming Sunday matchup, while Schmitz was listed as a backup after missing a practice for the birth of his child.

What the reports add

The Post noted that Hudson, an undrafted rookie who joined the Giants in November 2024, beat out veteran Lucas Patrick in a training‑camp battle six weeks earlier. Left tackle Andrew Thomas praised Hudson’s football IQ, saying he appears more mature than his limited opportunities suggest.

What was said

"He’s always done a great job with us, so we were not surprised by the way he played," Nagy told the Post. Hudson added, "There’s a lot of things I want to clean up to make it easier on the other four guys – the communication from my end can be better," and later said, "All‑around, it was a good start for me."

How it came about

Hudson entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2024, appeared in two games his rookie season, and earned the starting role after beating out the ailing Patrick during the preseason. His familiarity with the offensive game plan and a clean exchange with quarterback Jameis Winston contributed to the coaches’ confidence.

Key facts

• Bryan Hudson started his first career game at center for the Giants. (nypost.com)
• Hudson allowed no quarterback pressures in 37 pass‑blocking snaps. (nypost.com)
• Coach Matt Nagy praised Hudson’s performance and kept him in the lineup. (nypost.com)
• Left tackle Andrew Thomas called Hudson "incredibly smart" and mature. (nypost.com)
• John Michael Schmitz missed a practice for the birth of his child and moved to backup. (nypost.com)

Timeline

• 2026-09-27 — Giants played the Titans; Schmitz started at center.
• 2026-10-07 — Hudson practiced at the Quest Diagnostics center in East Rutherford.
• 2026-10-09 — Post reported Hudson's first start and upcoming start.

Sources

• [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Giants turning to Bryan Hudson at center after impressive first start”