Dexter Lawrence is hard to miss in the Giants’ locker room. He is one of the biggest players on the team and also one of the biggest characters.

His youthful exuberance is often contagious and he energizes his teammates with trash-talk and sack dances.

But something else was infectious around the Giants’ locker room following their 40-0 blowout loss to the despised Cowboys in their 2023 season opener on Sunday night.

“I would say anger,” Lawrence told The Post on Tuesday evening from White Olive in Midtown, where Lawrence was making an appearance at the New York Team of Heroes kickoff event and artwork unveiling. Charles Fazzino’s art will be auctioned at the organization’s gala in December to benefit SBH Health.

“We got embarrassed,” Lawrence said of the opening loss. “But you’ve got to own it and move on, don’t let it linger. That’s the message that we’re gonna live by. Just go out and execute. Prepare the same this week as we did last week. I thought we had a good week of practice and meetings, so keep preparing the same way and the results will come.”

Though Lawrence usually is jovial, the Giants now need another side of their star defensive tackle: Lawrence the Leader.

Lawrence, who signed a four-year, $90 million extension this offseason, is a team captain and is now tasked with helping restore the Giants’ morale after one of the most embarrassing defeats in franchise history.

“Yeah, for sure [it falls on my shoulders],” Lawrence said. “And I do that by my approach each day. This is early in the season, s-–t gonna happen. It’s not gonna define our season if we don’t allow it to is my message. We’re gonna keep fighting, we’re gonna keep preparing, we’re gonna keep doing the right things and come out on top.

“Just not having excuses. They beat us. We’ve just got to come back the next week and not let that linger to the following week.”

Against their next opponent, the Cardinals, Lawrence and the Giants have more than a chance to immediately get their season back on track.

The game, at Arizona, also will be a chance for Lawrence to challenge an old friend.

Will Hernandez, who played four seasons with the Giants, is a starting guard for the Cardinals. Lawrence went against Hernandez in countless practice reps during the three seasons they played together.

Lawrence thinks Hernandez brings the best out of him.

“I think it’s fun going against guys you know, have a little bragging rights over them, when you beat them,” Lawrence said. “But I respect Will and his game, and honestly I’m ready for the battle, because I know he’s a fighter.

“We were close when he was here. Guys like that, we get to actually compete against each other in live time, so I’m excited about that.”