“It would be nice to have a little mix between back then and now. You definitely take care of your body more now. But it’s a little harder to get yourself ready for the start of the season when the hitting isn’t real.”

Practices may be less violent, but that did not prevent one of the Giants’ starting linebackers, Jameel McClain, from sustaining a neck injury Wednesday that has sidelined him indefinitely.

Still, how physical practice is, or should be, has remained a frequent topic of conversation at Giants camp. Many players are looking forward to next week, when they will visit the training camp of the Cincinnati Bengals for two joint practices. Typically, facing another team instead of scrimmaging against teammates heightens the intensity of the play, especially among the linemen.

The last time the Giants held a joint practice was 10 years ago, with the Jets, and it featured a brawl that included the coaches of both teams shouting at one another.

But perhaps because of the full-contact restrictions, joint training camp practices have become common in the N.F.L. Coaches seem to think it helps ramp up their preparedness heading into the season. Giants Coach Tom Coughlin is mindful that his recent teams have started their regular seasons slowly. Last year, the Giants opened with an 0-2 record. In 2013, they were 0-6.

Coughlin, however, is not looking for a fight. Some fisticuffs have broken out in Giants camp, and Coughlin has quickly jumped in to scold the combatants.