He wants to make it clear he is in no way, shape or form looking ahead, not past the next day’s practice, not past the final preseason tuneup, not past anything. 

But Deonte Banks, the impressive rookie cornerback, admits he already has started thinking about and studying what he will be facing in his first real matchup with NFL wide receivers when the Giants open up their season Sept. 10 against the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. 

“For sure, 100 percent, got to,” Banks said. “Because that Week 1 ain’t changing, you feel me? I always try to get a head start on people.” 

And, from his preliminary work, what did Banks learn about CeeDee Lamb, who in his third year with the Cowboys busted out in 2022 with 107 receptions for 1,359 yards and nine touchdowns? 

“Real explosive, runs good routes, he’s good, he’s real nice, he’s real good, but I’m here to compete, I’m here to play football,” Banks said. “That’s going to be exciting, that’s going to be fun.” 

Lamb in 2022 lined up in the slot 63 percent of his time on the field — his 867 slot yards led the league — and so in that season opener he most often will be under the purview of Adoree’ Jackson, the veteran who has moved inside into the slot corner spot to accommodate rookie Tre Hawkins, the surprise of the summer.

Banks could see plenty of veteran wideout Brandin Cooks but he also will tangle with Lamb, an emerging star. 

An NFL debut against such a formidable foe, in a nationally-televised Sunday night game, will be quite a challenge.

It certainly could be a bit intimidating. 

“Not at all, not by nobody,” Banks said. “Not at all.” 

That is for another day.

Of more immediate relevance is whatever action Banks gets Saturday night against Aaron Rodgers, who will make his first Jets appearance of the preseason, expected to face a Giants defense composed mostly of backups, other than young starters like Banks and Hawkins. 

That the Giants are actually heading into a new season planning to start two rookies at the outside cornerback spots is A) interesting, B) risky, C) worrisome or D) all of the above.

Banks was selected in the first round out of Maryland and earmarked for an immediate starting role.

Hawkins as a sixth-round pick from Old Dominion was expected to compete for a roster spot as a developmental prospect.

That he moved up the depth chart so rapidly is not what was envisioned for Hawkins or this defense in 2023. 

“When we first got Tre you saw a big, fast athlete and you get him on the field and you see how competitive he is and how strong he is and physical he is,” cornerbacks coach Jerome Henderson said. “

As we continued to play we were like ‘Wow, this kid’s like much better than I ever anticipated.’ Otherwise we would have picked him earlier. It’s a credit to [general manager] Joe [Schoen] and his staff for identifying the skills and saying this guy has the skills we value. 

“He has surpassed anything I would have imagined at this point.” 

Jackson, entering his seventh NFL season, accepted the new slot assignment without hesitation, mentoring the first-year guys with the proper attitude and mindset. 

“I’m not going to lie, I tell them I feel like their uncle, and I’m just proud every time I go out there and see them play, see them work and just see them do different things,” Jackson said. “It’s one of those things like when I was a rookie, how would I want the vets to treat me? So now, it’s me paying that forward to them.” 

In his first two preseason games, Banks was on the field for 33 coverage snaps and did not allow a reception, according to Pro Football Focus. The passer rating throwing on Banks? A microscopic 39.6. 

Banks seemed vaguely aware of these analytics. 

“I don’t really track it, you feel me?” he said. “I just go out there and play my game.” 

Banks, 22, said his older teammates helped him learn how to watch film more productively, and he realized on his own that he needed a primer in what it takes to prepare at an NFL level. 

“In college you could be, I would say, more chill in practice,” Banks said. “In the big leagues you got to go out there in practice, it’s a real big thing. You got to be on it.” 

Banks will need to be on it when the games actually count. 

“I’m taking it a day at a time but I’m super ready for that,” Banks said. “That Sunday night game, it’s going to be real fun.”