Six weeks ago, Bryan Hudson and Lucas Patrick were locked in a training-camp battle to be the Giants' backup center.
Hudson (Giants) and Patrick (Commanders) are expected to start for opposing teams Sunday while the player who was tops on the depth chart then – John Michael Schmitz – settles into a new backup role.
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Hudson made his first career start last week over Schmitz, who had started the first 44 games when healthy during his career.
"He's always done a great job with us, so we were not surprised by the way he played," offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said. "We just have to keep that going. We needed that, and there were some really good clips in there that he did in both run and pass."
Schmitz, a 2023 second-round pick, was excused from one practice last week to be at the birth of his child but was active for the game – and yet the Giants stuck with Hudson due to familiarity with the game plan.
"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," Hudson told The Post. "But I feel like, all-around, it was a good start for me."
Hudson did not allow a quarterback pressure on 37 pass-blocking snaps against the Cardinals.
New York Giants center Bryan Hudson (60) looks on during practice at the Quest Diagnostics center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
"Huddy is an incredibly smart player," left tackle Andrew Thomas said. "Though last week was his first start, I think he's a lot more mature than how many opportunities he's had. He's only going to get better."
Hudson was an undrafted rookie when he first joined the Giants in November 2024. He appeared in two games last season but really made his move two months ago by beating out the ailing Patrick.
"JMS is one of my best friends on the team, and as an O-line we're all really close to each other," Hudson said. "In the role I've been in, I'm there to help him any way I can and be as prepared as I can so if anything happens – whether it's a shoelace in a game or he has something amazing going on – I'm able to step in and make it seamless as can be."
New York Giants' Jameis Winston (19) takes the snap from John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61) against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter of a game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. Getty Images
Unlike Schmitz, Hudson is under team control (exclusive rights free agent) in 2027 so the Giants could return all five starters up front if Hudson keeps the job.
Hudson and quarterback Jameis Winston have a clean exchange after two years working together on the second-team offense.
The Giants have rotated offensive linemen at guard in years past. Center is a different beast.
"The center has to get in the flow of the game," Hudson said. "Defenses usually have flavors of the game and do things that the center, at the beginning of the game, has to see and adjust in-game. With ball security, we try to keep the exchange as consistent as possible, but every guy is a little different so that makes it difficult to change centers midgame of every other series."
