Giants’ Sam Beal Designated For Return
The Giants announced that they have designated Sam Beal for return. The cornerback may now be weeks away from making his long-awaited NFL debut. 
The Giants took Beal in the third round of the 2018 Supplemental Draft, but he was forced to redshirt his rookie year after shoulder surgery. There was some talk that Beal could start in 2019, but a hamstring issue cost him most of training camp and the entire preseason and the club was forced to place him on injured reserve in September.
Fun fact: Beal was only the third supplemental draft player ever selected by the Giants in franchise history. In July of 2018, he joined quarterback Dave Brown (first round, 1992) and cornerback Tito Wooten (fourth round, 1994) in the record books.
The 6’1″ cornerback ran a 4.47-second 40-yard-dash leading up the draft and the Giants are itching to see what the athletic defensive back can do in live action.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/15/19
A look at the latest NFL practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Carson Meier
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Denzel Rice
- Released: S A.J. Howard
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Jordan Veasy
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL Fadol Brown
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Gehrig Dieter
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Stephen Anderson, C Cole Toner
- Placed on practice squad IR: RB Detrez Newsome
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Nsimba Webster
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Davion Davis
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Tyler Gauthier, WR Devin Ross
- Released: K Younghoe Koo, TE Jason Vander Laan
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Jon Hilliman
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: RB James Butler, WR Anthony Ratliff-Williams
- Released: RB Damarea Crockett, DE Quinton Bell
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: RB De’Angelo Henderson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Tony Brooks-James, T Christian DiLauro
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Deontay Burnett
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Brian Allen, S Adrian Colbert, TE Tyrone Swoopes, T Chad Wheeler
- Released: LB Malik Carney, CB Parry Nickerson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: LB Demone Harris, RB Darius Jackson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Nigel Harris
- Released: LB Ukeme Eligwe
Washington Redskins
- Signed: TE Wes Saxton, DB Maurice Smith
- Released: TE Drew Belcher, T Victor Salako
Connor Barwin Announces Retirement
Connor Barwin is hanging ’em up. This week, the longtime NFL pass-rusher announced his retirement from the sport. 
“[On Tuesday], I turn 33 and after a decade of playing the greatest sport there is, I’m excited to say I’m moving on to the next chapter of my life,” Barwin wrote on social media. “To my coaches, teammates, fans, and family – thank you all! It was an honor to compete on Sundays for the last ten years. Houston, Philadelphia, LA, and New York – couldn’t have dreamed of a better journey. Thank you for the good times and all the support!”
Barwin enjoyed some of his best years with the Eagles from 2013-2016 and lobbied for a return late in the summer. That never came to fruition and Barwin is ready to move on to life after football.
Barwin’s very best season came in Philly in 2014 when he racked up 14.5 sacks, made the Pro Bowl, and earned second-team All-Pro honors. He signed a one-year deal with the Rams in 2017, and, although he had five sacks, his performance wasn’t well-regarded by the advanced metrics. Then, Barwin signed a two-year deal with the Giants before the 2018 season but didn’t make waves in New York, either.
While things didn’t necessarily end on a high note, Barwin leaves the game after an impressive total run. He notched 56.5 sacks across ten NFL seasons for the Texans, Eagles, Rams, and Giants, and that’s plenty to celebrate on his 33rd birthday.
Giants To Re-Sign Bennie Fowler
Bennie and the Giants. On Monday, the G-Men re-signed wide receiver Bennie Fowler, bringing him back to the Meadowlands after a short hiatus (Twitter link via Pat Leonard of the Daily News). To make room, the Giants dropped linebacker Nathan Stupar. 
Fowler was dropped recently after posting 12 catches for 99 yards through four games. The move helped them clear a spot for the return of Golden Tate, but they need Fowler back in their lives as receiver Sterling Shepard and tight end Evan Engram remain banged up.
The Giants are familiar with Fowler – he spent the 2018 season with the club, though he had just 16 grabs for 199 yards and one touchdown through ten games, mostly as a role player. Before that, Fowler spent four years in Denver.
The Giants fell to the Patriots on Thursday night, dropping them to 2-4 on the season. They’ll look to get things back on track this Sunday, when they face the Cardinals at Metlife Stadium.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/12/19
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: OL John Wetzel
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Jason Moore
- Waived: TE Stephen Anderson
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted from practice squad: RB John Kelly
- Waived: WR Nsimba Webster
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Nik Needham
- Waived: S Doug Middleton
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Cameron Smith
- Waived: WR Davion Davis
New York Giants
- Re-signed: QB Alex Tanney
- Waived: RB Austin Walter
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jacob Hollister
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR OG Zack Bailey
Giants To Sign Buck Allen, Cut Jon Hilliman
The Giants moved fast to fortify their backfield. Buck Allen‘s Friday workout will produce a signing, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweeting the former Raven will replace Jon Hilliman on the Giants’ roster.
Hilliman fumbled twice in Thursday night’s loss to the Patriots and will head to the waiver wire. Big Blue also worked out C.J. Anderson and Akeem Hunt but will go with Allen, who is now with his second team since his Ravens contract expired.
A 2015 fourth-round pick, Allen caught on with the Saints but saw that tenure end quickly. New Orleans placed him on IR and parted ways with the fifth-year running back via injury settlement. After Allen’s first known workout since that move, he has another gig. Allen, 28, posted two 500-yard seasons in Ravens backfield committees, in 2015 and ’17, though each came with sub-4.0-yards-per-carry averages.
A Rutgers product, Hilliman was a Giants 2019 UDFA summoned to action because of Saquon Barkley‘s high ankle sprain and Wayne Gallman‘s concussion. Hilliman began the season on New York’s practice squad and could return to that 10-man unit if he clears waivers. Though, he will be doing so after a rough nationally televised outing. Barkley is expected to return for Week 7, with Gallman’s timetable a bit murkier. In Allen, Giants now have some experienced depth behind their top duo.
Giants Audition C.J. Anderson, Buck Allen
The Giants are on the hunt for backfield depth. In addition to auditioning Akeem Hunt, the Giants used a Friday workout to look at C.J. Anderson and Buck Allen, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
Thursday night’s 35-14 loss to the Patriots occurred without Saquon Barkley or Wayne Gallman. While Barkley is expected to return soon from his high ankle sprain, Gallman has a concussion and a less certain timetable. Big Blue has used UDFA Jon Hilliman as its third-stringer thus far. He got the start against New England.
Anderson, 28, has been a well-traveled back since his five-season Broncos stay ended after the 2017 slate. Super Bowl 50’s top rusher, Anderson also thrived with the Rams when summoned late last season and played a key role in Super Bowl LIII. The Lions released the former Pro Bowler in September.
Allen’s rookie contract expired after the ’18 season. He surpassed 500 yards rushing in 2015 and ’17. The Saints signed Allen this offseason but parted ways with him via injury settlement. This is his first known workout since that transaction.
The Giants cut Paul Perkins and jettisoned Rod Smith via injury settlement, so if Gallman cannot return soon, the team may be set to add a veteran as insurance.
Giants To Work Out RB Akeem Hunt
- Down both Saquon Barkley and Wayne Gallman tonight, the Giants will work out running back Akeem Hunt on Friday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Hunt began his career as a Giants UDFA in 2015 but is known for his contributions as a Chiefs and Texans backup from 2015-17. Gallman is in concussion protocol, and Barkley appears on the doorstep of returning. Barring another setback, it’s likely Barkley is back for Week 7.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/10/19
Here are Thursday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: TE Bradley Sowell
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Austin Walter
- Waived: QB Alex Tanney
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: C Nate Trewyn
Injury Updates: Saints, Brees, Giants
Saints quarterback Drew Brees wants to return sometime before the team’s Week 9 bye, but the team wants to exercise caution and push that off until Week 10, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports tweets. The Saints’ position makes sense, given Brees’ importance and Teddy Bridgewater‘s recent performance.
The Saints are 4-1 following Sunday’s win over the Bucs and they’ll look to make it four straight with a win over the Jaguars on Sunday afternoon.
Here’s more on some notable injuries around the NFL:
- The Giants officially ruled out running back Saquon Barkley (ankle), tight end Evan Engram (knee), and running back Wayne Gallman (concussion) for Thursday night’s game against the Pats. The Giants showed some new signs of life following Daniel Jones‘ takeover of the offense, but they fell to the Vikings over the weekend and the odds may be stacked against them in New England.
- Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians says edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul will be able to resume practicing with the team next week. JPP has not missed a game over the last two seasons, but he has yet to make his 2019 debut thanks to a fractured vertebra in his neck. Recently, he restructured his deal with the Bucs, allowing him to reach free agency after the ’19 season.