Giants To Place Zak DeOssie On IR
The Giants are expected to place longtime long snapper Zak DeOssie on injured reserve with knee and wrist injuries, sources tell NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter). The injury may mark the end of DeOssie’s time with the Giants, as he looks ahead to his 36th birthday in May. 
DeOssie entered the league as a 2007 fourth-round pick of the Giants and went on to win two Super Bowls rings the club. The long snapper and Eli Manning represent the last two players from the Giants’ last Super Bowl victory, and both players could exit the organization in the coming months. After those two, the longest tenured Giants are cornerback Janoris Jenkins and wide receiver Sterling Shepard.
DeOssie was named to the Pro Bowl twice, in 2008 and again in 2010. Before now, he missed just four games in his career, all in the 2015 season.
The Brown product re-upped with the Giants on a one-year deal in the spring, fresh off of his previous two-year contract worth $2.315MM. He’ll be eligible for free agency in March.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/27/19
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Carson Meier
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: C Jake Brendel
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Chris Lacy
- Placed on IR: WR Marvin Hall
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Da’Mari Scott
- Waived: WR Bennie Fowler
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Rico Gafford
- Waived: OL Erik Magnuson
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: DL Damontre Moore
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Jeremiah Valoaga
Washington
- Signed: OLB Nate Orchard
Giants Hold Kicker Workout
A year after Aldrick Rosas made the Pro Bowl, the Giants are working out kickers. Rosas missed two field goals in the Giants’ five-point loss to the Bears.
The Giants brought in kickers Blair Walsh, Giorgio Tavecchio, Austin MacGinnis and Cole Hedlund on Tuesday, according to the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter).
While Rosas did not kick well in Week 12, also booting a kickoff out of bounds, it would still be rather surprising to see a team give up on a third-year kicker who received a 2018 Pro Bowl invite. Rosas made 32 of 33 field goal tries last season and missed just one extra point. This year, he has not received nearly as many field goal chances. The former UDFA out of Southern Oregon is 8-for-12 on field goals and has missed three PATs.
Walsh caught on briefly with the Falcons and worked out for the Patriots and Jets this year. He also took part in a January workout for the then-kicker-needy Bears. Tavecchio and Walsh were briefly Falcons teammates this summer. The former held Atlanta’s kicking job for part of the 2018 season.
Giants Waive WR Bennie Fowler
The Giants will make an adjustment to their wide receiver group. Despite Golden Tate now residing in concussion protocol, the Giants waived Bennie Fowler.
This marks the second time this season the Giants have cut the seventh-year veteran. They did so in October, when Tate’s suspension ended. While Fowler was released then, due to being a vested veteran, he will hit the waiver wire now. No team signed him immediately upon his October release, however, so he may well head back to free agency.
Fowler had been with Big Blue for two seasons, playing in 18 games and operating as an auxiliary target for Eli Manning and Daniel Jones. The former Broncos UDFA, who worked with wideouts coach Tyke Tolbert in both Denver and New York, caught 39 passes for 392 yards and a touchdown as a Giant.
Fowler, however, was not active for Sunday’s game against the Bears. He is probably best known for catching Peyton Manning‘s final NFL pass — a two-point conversion in Super Bowl 50. Fowler has joined fellow ex-Bronco Cody Latimer on the Giants the past two seasons, with each re-signing with New York this offseason.
WR Golden Tate In Concussion Protocol
Giants wide receiver Golden Tate is once again in the concussion protocol after landing awkwardly on a touchdown reception in Sunday’s 19-14 loss to the Bears, according to a team release. While rookie quarterback Daniel Jones has struggled to adjust to NFL defenses, Tate has been his most productive receiver.
The Giants front office was criticized mightily for their decisions to select Jones with the sixth overall pick and to trade Odell Beckham Jr. General manager Dave Gettleman believed the team would be better served by recouping assets for Beckham and signing Tate to a 4-year, $37.5MM contract. Only time will tell whether Jones can become the New York’s franchise quarterback, but injuries to the Giants skill positions have further hampered his ability to be productive.
Tate was an iron man over the first nine seasons of his career, playing in at least 11 games every season and appearing in at least 15 games over the previous eight. However, Tate was suspended by the league for the first four games of 2019 for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. In the Giants seven games since his suspension, he hauled in 36 receptions for 450 yards and 4 touchdowns. Now, the team may have to rely more heavily on Sterling Shepard, who just returned from the concussion protocol himself.
Giants S Jabrill Peppers Suffers Fracture
Giants safety Jabrill Peppers was diagnosed with a traverse process fracture, according to a team press release. While it is not uncommon for fractures to end a player’s season, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports that head coach Pat Shurmur told reporters he does not expect the injury to be season ending. The training staff does not seem to think that Peppers would be at greater risk of suffering a major injury if he played with the injury, but pain is still a large concern.
In the third season of his professional career, Peppers has avoided missing time with any major injuries, starting 40 of his team’s 43 games. Acquired last offseason in the trade that sent Odell Beckham Jr. to the Browns, Peppers has been one of the most productive players on New York’s defense. He has recorded 76 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 5 passes defended, and one pick-six.
According to Paul Schwartz of The New York Post, Peppers suffered the injury after returning a kickoff in the first half of the Giants 19-14 loss to the Bears. Normally, Peppers only handles the team’s punt returning duties, but convinced special teams coach Thomas McGaughey to give him a shot. He had returned a punt for 40 yards earlier and felt like he was in a good spot to make a big play.
Julian Love replaced Peppers on Sunday, but defensive back Michael Thomas is listed as the backup strong safety on the team’s website. Thomas is a veteran special teamer and may be hesitant to remove him from that role. Furthermore, Love, a fourth-round selection in the 2019 draft, recorded an interception in his first extended playing time on the defensive side of the ball.
Jerry Jones Critical Of Cowboys’ Coaching Staff
NOV. 25: The Cowboys will not fire Garrett or make any immediate changes to his staff, per Werder (via Twitter). Werder reminds us that OL coach Paul Alexander was fired during the team’s bye week in 2018, so there is precedent there, but Garrett, O’Quinn, et al. are safe for now (Twitter link).
NOV. 24: Earlier on Sunday, a report emerged suggesting current Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett could be the next head coach of the rival Giants. New York has struggled under Pat Shurmur and there appeared to be mutual interest between Garrett and the Giants. One thing that remains unclear is whether Garrett will be available. While he has been on the hot seat for much of the season, it would not be the first time public perceptions of Garrett’s job status were incorrect.
At least publicly, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has remained supportive and confident in Garrett — until now. After Dallas’ 13-9 loss to the Patriots, Jones was very critical of his coaching staff, according to Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan. The most critical commentary focused on the special teams unit, which had a number of crucial mishaps against New England. That does fall under Garrett’s supervision, but likely has larger ramifications for special teams ccoordinator Keith O’Quinn.
With that said, some of Jones’ criticism seemed like a more direct indictment of Garrett as well. “When we run up against an opponent that gets it together, we have a tough time coordinating how we put our offense and defense out there and have them playing [well] at the same time,” Jones said. The owner went as far to say that they had been “outcoached” and lacked “coaching fundamentals.”
Fisher had speculated earlier in the day that the rumors connecting Garrett to the Giants could have been an attempt from Garrett’s side to pressure Jones into an extension. However, Fisher opined for Sports Illustrated that could backfire and cause the owner to lose patience with Garrett even quicker than he would otherwise. The shift in Jones’ public discussion lends credence to that argument.
Indeed, Ed Werder of ESPN.com calls Jones’ comments with respect to Garrett his most damning review of Garrett’s work (Twitter link). Werder also speculates (via Twitter) that the Cowboys may have to win all of their remaining regular season games and at least two playoff games for Jones to retain Garrett.
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.
[SOURCE LINK]
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