Jerell Adams

Giants rookie tight end Jerell Adams is making progress as his playbook knowledge increases. (William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Jerell Adams looked the part of an NFL tight end the first day he arrived at the Giants' facility after the team picked him in the sixth round of this year's draft. But it has taken time for the 6-foot-5, 247-pound South Carolina product to play like an NFL tight end.

"The hardest part has been learning the playbook," Adams said before the Giants' second preseason game against the Bills on Saturday (4 p.m., MY9). "Football is football. It's just how much knowledge can you take in and put it on the field. The playbook is finally coming to me a little more so I can run a little faster and move around a little quicker."

Fourth-year tight end Larry Donnell has mentored Adams during camp, visiting the rookie's hotel room to help him learn the plays. Signs of progress were evident during practice this week, as Adams made a number of catches downfield in team periods.

"He's working hard. That's a thing you can say about Jerell," Giants coach Ben McAdoo said. "He's taken small steps every day. He's making some plays down the middle of field for us, like we like. We feel like there is a lot of upside there as a special teams player, which he hasn't done a lot of in the past. So we're excited about Jerell."

WATCH: TE Jerell Adams down the sideline at #Giants practice https://t.co/1lAM5rj2aV — New York Giants (@Giants) August 18, 2016

Adams only played on the kickoff team in college. He has been working with the Giants' first and second teams on the core four special teams units: Kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return.

"I'm playing everything," Adams said. "It's very important. That's how guys make the 53(-man roster): Special teams. The coaches will tell you, 'Special teams, special teams.' You've got to dominate on special teams. That's what I'm working on."

Adams is fighting for playing time -- and a roster spot -- at a crowded tight end position that features Donnell, Will Tye, Matt LaCosse, Ryan Malleck and Will Johnson.

"We're just competing against each other, but it's a friendly competition," Adams said. "We're still fighting for a job, but at the end of the day, you don't want to make someone else feel like crap or whatnot. We all try to help each other out. If someone messes up, we say, 'Hey, man, you have to work on this or you have to work on that.' It's a friendly competition."

Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.