Giants To Work Out Safety Shamiel Gary
Greatly in need of safety depth, the Giants plan to work out free agent Shamiel Gary on Sunday, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported earlier today that New York will also take a look at veteran Donte Whitner this weekend.
[RELATED: Giants Re-Sign Michael Hunter]
Gary, 26, was an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State in 2014. He’s spent time with several clubs, with the Patriots and Bears among them, but his only regular season action came in 2015, when he appeared in six games for the Dolphins. Miami waived Gary at final cutdowns earlier this month, at which point he signed on with the Vikings’ practice squad. Minnesota then waived him two weeks ago.
Incumbent Giants safeties Nat Berhe (concussion) and Darian Thompson (concussion) are both unlikely to play on Monday night, and Leon Hall — who could shift to safety in a pinch — will be needed at corner given the injuries to Eli Apple and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. As Rapoport notes, New York is so banged up at safety that it’s been forced to use offensive players in the secondary during practice.
Gary also has two other workout sessions planned for next week, per Garafolo.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants To Work Out Donte Whitner
The Giants will work out free agent safety on Donte Whitner on Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Whitner has been sitting on the open market since April after being released by the Browns.
[RELATED: Giants Place Shane Vereen On IR]
Whitner, who has drawn offseason interest from the Rams and Panthers, is still a productive player as he enters his age-31 season. In 2015, he started 14 games in Cleveland, defensing four passes, forcing one fumble, and posting 1.5 sacks. Whitner also graded out well via the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus, which rated him as the league’s No. 24 safety among 89 qualifiers.
Incumbent Giants safeties Nat Berhe (concussion) and Darian Thompson (concussion) are both unlikely to play on Monday night, and Leon Hall — who could shift to safety in a pinch — will be needed at corner given the injuries to Eli Apple and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. As Rapoport notes, New York is so banged up at safety that it’s been forced to use offensive players in the secondary during practice.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Try Out O-Linemen
- The Giants auditioned four offensive linemen – Rob Crisp, Jason Weaver, Jon Halapio and Shahbaz Ahmed – reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter link). New York ended up signing Halapio to its practice squad. The Patriots selected Halapio in the sixth round of the 2014 draft, but he hasn’t seen any regular-season action. Crisp, Weaver and Ahmed are also devoid of experience.
Practice Squad Updates: 9/29/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: S Marcus Ball (Twitter link via Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer)
New York Giants
- Signed: G Jon Halapio (Twitter link via Jordan Raanan of ESPN)
Practice Squad Updates: 9/28/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Jonathan Anderson (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: OT Clay DeBord
- Cut: DE Chris McCain
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Zaviar Gooden (Twitter link via Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: C Daniel Munyer
- Cut: WR Seantavius Jones (via Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: LB Darnell Sankey (via Scott Bair of CSNCalifornia.com)
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Anthony Johnson (Twitter link via Doug Kyed of NESN)
- Cut: OT Ian Silberman (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Giants
- Signed: OT Jon Halapio (Twitter link via James Kratch of NJ.com)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Jonathan Krause (Twitter link via Roy Cummings of WFLA)
Bills Sign Michael Ola From Giants’ Practice Squad
The Bills have signed offensive lineman Michael Ola, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets. Ola was plucked from the Giants’ practice squad to fill their vacant 53-man roster spot. 
Ola, 28, was among the Lions’ final cuts this preseason. He hooked on with the Seahawks’ taxi squad soon after being released, but he didn’t last long there. The lineman agreed to join the Giants’ p-squad on September 21st and one week later, he’s off to a new city.
Ola has 24 games to his credit between the Bears, Lions, and Chargers over the last two years. In his time with Chicago, Ola made 12 starts and saw time at every offensive line position except for center. The Bills view Ola as a solid depth pickup and someone that can offer help across the line, if needed.
The Bills now have ten offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, as Rodak notes (Twitter link). Buffalo also has two linemen on the taxi squad and Seantrel Henderson will return from suspension next week. The Bills could get a one-week roster exemption for Henderson that would allow them to have him practice without counting against the roster.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Sign Michael Hunter
- The Giants announced that they have re-signed cornerback Michael Hunter. The club created a roster spot by placing Shane Vereen on injured reserve after he suffered a triceps injury.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/27/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Cam Johnson
- Cut: LB Shaq Riddick
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Ed Eagan, C Terran Vaughn
- Cut: LB Carlos Fields, S Damian Parms
Green Bay Packers
- Cut: CB Robertson Daniel (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: G Adam Redmond
- Cut: S Lee Hightower
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OT Rashod Hill (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: C Daniel Munyer
- Cut: WR Seantavius Jones (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Lynden Trail (Twitter link via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com)
New England Patriots
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Doran Grant
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Julian Stanford
- Cut: WR Wendall Williams
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DL Demetrius Cherry (Twitter link via Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle)
- Cut: LB Korey Toomer (Twitter link via Tafur)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Zac Brooks (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Sheil Kapadia)
- Cut: WR Antwan Goodley (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: G Darrell Greene
- Cut: CB JaCorey Shepherd (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DB Jacob Hagen (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Jordan Leslie
- Cut: NT Antwaun Woods
Washington Redskins
- Signed: CB Lloyd Carrington (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post), CB Tye Smith (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post)
- Cut: LB Amarlo Herrera
NFL Waiver Priority Now Based On 2016 Record
We’re coming up on Week 4 of the NFL season and that means that waiver claim priority will be based on the current league standings instead of last year’s. Of course, waiver priority is based on the inverted NFL standings, which have built in tiebreakers to sort out the many logjams that naturally occur.
Throughout the offseason and the first three weeks of the regular season, the Titans enjoyed top priority thanks to their 3-13 finish last year. Now, we have a brand new pecking order. Here is a full rundown of the current waiver claim priority, which will change from week to week:
1. Jaguars
2. Saints
3. Bears
4. Browns
5. Chargers
6. Lions
7. Jets
8. Cardinals
9. Bills
10. Colts
11. Dolphins
12. 49ers
13. Buccaneers
14. Bengals
15. Titans
16. Redskins
17. Panthers
18. Falcons
19. Cowboys
20. Giants
21. Raiders
22. Packers
23. Chiefs
24. Rams
25. Seahawks
26. Texans
27. Steelers
28. Ravens
29. Eagles
30. Broncos
31. Vikings
32. Patriots
Darian Thompson's Foot Injury 'Not Serious'
Cook left Lambeau Field Sunday on crutches and remains in a walking boot. The Packers are off in Week 4 and host the Giants in Week 5, but they will likely do so without their starting tight end’s services. Richard Rodgers will be the next man up for Green Bay.
- Safety Darian Thompson‘s foot injury is not serious and not “the end of the world,” a source tells Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (on Twitter). Thompson will probably be out another week or two before suiting up for the Giants.