Giants Eyeing Jason Garrett As HC?
The Giants are not planning to fire head coach Pat Shurmur before the end of the 2019 season, but all options remain on the table after the season is over. And while the club may be inclined to keep Shurmur if for no other reason than to maintain continuity for young QB Daniel Jones, that could change should Cowboys HC Jason Garrett become available.
Garrett has been on the hot seat several times during his Cowboys tenure, but he has still managed to hold onto his post since he was given the permanent HC title in 2011. However, his contract is up at the end of the 2019 campaign, and owner Jerry Jones has not offered a ringing endorsement of his sideline general this year. Jones is said to be fond of Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, and even if he can’t get Riley, he may finally decide to move on from Garrett if the Cowboys do not make a deep postseason run.
And if the Cowboys do part ways with Garrett, the Giants could be there to pounce. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link) says Big Blue has emerged as a legitimate landing spot for Garrett, and the Giants would be Garrett’s top choice if he can’t stick with Dallas. Rapoport reminds us that, in 2014, when New York was deciding whether or not to move on from then-HC Tom Coughlin, the club would have fired Coughlin if it could have gotten Garrett. But Garrett signed an extension with the Cowboys, so the Giants held on to Coughlin.
For all his faults, Garrett has compiled an 85-66 mark as a head coach, including a 2-3 postseason record. Shurmur, meanwhile, is 17-42 as an HC.
Three Giants Return From Concussions
- Some good news on the Giants injury front: the team announced that wideout Sterling Shepard, cornerback Janoris Jenkins, and offensive lineman Nate Solder have all cleared concussion protocol and will play Sunday against the Bears. Jenkins and Solder both left the Giants’ Week 10 loss to the Jets, while Shepard hasn’t seen the field since Week 5.
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NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/20/19
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad decisions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Tanner Vallejo
- Released: OL Ian Silberman
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Andy Jones
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Quincy Adeboyejo
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Derrick Baity
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/19
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Vontarrius Dora, DB Sojourn Shelton, G Ian Silberman
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Greg Dortch
- Released: WR Quadree Henderson
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Dino Boyd, LB James Vaughters
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Tyvis Powell
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Darius Jackson
- Placed on injured list: RB Bruce Anderson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: C Nate Trewyn
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Jake Carlock
- Released: DB Doug Middleton
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Davion Davis
Giants Won't Shut Down Saquon
The Giants may be a long shot to make the postseason, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to shut down their star players. When asked if the team would rest running back Saquon Barkley, head coach Pat Shurmur responded with an emphatic “absolutely not” (via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY).
Shurmur had previously acknowledged that Barkley was a bit banged up, and that was evident after the running back compiled a single rushing yard on 13 carries during the Giants’ loss to the Jets on Sunday. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports that Barkley had an X-ray on his shoulder after the game. There was some thought that the 22-year-old was suffering from an ankle or leg injury, but Barkley acknowledged that his legs are still feeling good.
The Giants and Barkley will look to get back on track when they return from their bye week. The team will visit the Bears on November 24th.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/12/19
Today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Craig Reynolds
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OT Garrett McGhin, OT Aaron Monteiro
- Released: OT Matt Kaskey
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Malik Carney
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OL Gerhard de Beer
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Alex Bachman, LS Colin Holba
NFL Workout Updates: 11/12/19
Here’s the latest from around the league’s workout circuit:
Carolina Panthers
- OT Garrett McGhin, OT Aaron Monteiro
Cleveland Browns
- DE Tashawn Bower, DB Jontrell Rocquemore
Houston Texans
- RB Elijah McGuire, DL Caraun Reid
Indianapolis Colts
- TE Matt Flanagan, CBs Jayson Stanley, WR Cody Thompson
New York Giants
- RB George Aston, WR Alex Bachman, WR Jonathan Duhart, LS Dan Godsil, LB Dewayne Hendrix, LS Colin Holba, OT Pace Murphy, P Ryan Santoso, LS Drew Scott, CB Arrion Springs, K Tristan Vizcaino, WR Papi White, LB Jamell Garcia-Williams
Pat Shurmur Likely Won’t Be Fired In 2019; Latest On James Bettcher, Dave Gettleman
Although the Giants suffered an embarrassing loss to the Jets on Sunday, head coach Pat Shurmur will not be fired before the end of the 2019 season, as Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv writes. Furthermore, team ownership is not going to force Shurmur to make any changes to his staff, which means that DC James Bettcher is safe as well.
That does not mean, however, that both men will be with the Giants in 2020. New York is 2-9, and while the club’s roster has some major holes, Shurmur’s play-calling has come into question during his two-year tenure with Big Blue (though as Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk writes, Shurmur has no intention of giving up play-calling duties). Shurmur has also come under fire for his in-game decision-making.
Meanwhile, Bettcher is in charge of the league’s 26th-ranked defense, but he has very little talent at his disposal. As Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com observes, Bettcher is operating without a quality pass rusher, middle linebacker, or cornerback, which has greatly limited the aggressive approach that he is known for. Raanan, like Vacchiano, believes that Bettcher will at least survive through the remainder of 2019, though if he is to be evaluated solely on the performance of his unit over the final seven games, he may not get another shot in New York. But Vacchiano says team brass recognizes the difficult position that Bettcher has been put in, and if the club’s rookies and younger players show signs of life down the home stretch, he could be retained for next year.
Shurmur could also get a third season in New York thanks to his work with rookie QB Daniel Jones. Though Jones has struggled with turnovers, he otherwise looks the part of a franchise signal-caller, and the Giants certainly don’t want to do anything to hinder Jones’ development. If that means keeping Shurmur around for another season, then so be it.
Likewise, GM Dave Gettleman could be on the hot seat, but his selection of Jones — which was heavily criticized in the offseason — may be what saves him. But Raanan says that ownership will think long and hard about Gettleman’s future with the team this offseason, and as of right now, there are doubts as to whether he is the right man to restore the Giants to competitiveness.
Giants Sign TE Scott Simonson
The Giants have signed tight end Scott Simonson, as Matt Lombardo of NJ.com reports. New York will have its bye this week, but Simonson, 27, may have a chance to see plenty of action when Big Blue returns to the field against the Bears in Week 12.
Fellow tight end Rhett Ellison entered the concussion protocol on Monday, per Lombardo, and Evan Engram is dealing with a foot injury that sidelined him for Sunday’s game against the Jets. So while Simonson is lauded more for his run-blocking abilities than his receiving skills, he could be called on to do a little bit more in the short-term.
Simonson appeared in all 16 games for the Giants in 2018, catching nine passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. New York re-signed him in early 2019, but he suffered a high ankle sprain in this year’s preseason finale and was ultimately released with an injury settlement. This week was the earliest he was eligible to sign with any club, and the injury fortunes of New York’s other TEs worked to his advantage.
In addition to the Simonson signing, the Giants announced a series of practice squad moves. They signed WR Alex Bachman, TE Garrett Dickerson, and LS Colin Holba to the taxi squad and released WR Reggie White Jr. and DL Freedom Akinmoladun from the squad.
NFL Workout Updates: 11/11/19
Here’s the latest from around the league’s workout circuit:
Cleveland Browns
- S Tre Sullivan, DT Destiny Vaeao
Green Bay Packers
- DT Carl Davis, DT Justin Ellis, DT David Parry
Houston Texans
- DE Joel Heath, DL Caruan Reid
Indianapolis Colts
- WR Jeff Badet, WR Amara Darboh, WR T.J. Jones, WR Andy Jones, WR Darius Jennings, QB Taylor Heinicke, CB Trevor Williams
New York Giants
- G Larry Allen Jr, WR Keon Hatcher, QB Tanner Lee, WR J.J. Nelson, K Elliott Fry, K Kaare Vedvik
Oakland Raiders
Philadelphia Eagles