The Giants intended to practice Thursday inside their fieldhouse, moving indoors to get out of the smoky air from the Canadian wildfires that have inundated the New York/New Jersey area.
The air quality inside the fieldhouse was compromised, though, and coach Brian Daboll, after consulting with his players and medical professionals, made the determination to cancel the organized team activity session.
Daboll also canceled Friday’s OTA practice.
The team will return to the field next week for mandatory minicamp Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Let this thing settle down and start back up next week,” Daboll said.
The Giants conducted interviews with their three coordinators in the fieldhouse, as previously scheduled, before deciding to forgo practice.
A group of players met earlier in the morning in a tent inside the fieldhouse and expressed concern about the air quality inside the facility.
That led to Daboll seeking the advice of Ronnie Barnes, the head athletic trainer and senior vice president of medical services and other medical personnel.
“They suggested we hold off until next week,” Daboll said. “I’m going to listen to the people with a bunch of initials next to their degree.”
Veteran players already took part in morning meetings and were allowed to leave.
The rookies stayed behind for meetings before leaving the building.
Daboll said it will not be a problem making up what was supposed to take place on the field in these two lost OTAs.
The Yankees-White Sox game Wednesday night was postponed because of the acrid air.
“It was important to the players, you guys can see it, how it looks in here,” Daboll said. “To me it’s not worth it.
“I’ve never seen anything like this. This is crazy, isn’t it?”
Wildfires in Canada started earlier in the week, and thick smoke has been blowing in from the country into the Northeast of the United States – notably in New York City, where the air quality was the worst it has been in decades all week.
