Giants Hoping Rashad Jennings Returns This Week
The Giants are optimistic that running back Rashad Jennings will be able to return to game action in Week 4 against the Vikings, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). New York announced earlier today that Shane Vereen is will be sidelined for awhile, so the club can use all the backfield help it can get.
[RELATED: New York Giants Depth Chart]
Jennings, 31, miss Sunday’s loss to the Redskins due to a left thumb injury. The ailment wouldn’t have affected his ability to carry the ball, but Jennings was concerned that it would hinder his passing game role, reports Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. On the season, Jenning has managed 102 yards on 32 carries, adding another 16 yards through the air. If Jennings can’t go on Sunday, the Giants will rely on Orleans Darkwa, Bobby Rainey, and Paul Perkins to maintain the ground game.
The Giants will likely have an open roster spot once they place Vereen on injured reserve, so they could potentially add another running back to their current crop if they choose.
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Giants’ Shane Vereen To Have Triceps Surgery
2:35pm: Vereen isn’t necessarily done for the year, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter links), who reports that Vereen’s recovery time is roughly two months. As such, Vereen could potentially return from injured reserve later this season.
12:19pm: Giants running back Shane Vereen will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a triceps injury on Sunday, the club announced today. Vereen will undergo surgery to correct the issue.
[RELATED: New York Giants Depth Chart]
With Rashad Jennings sidelined on Sunday, Vereen was New York’s primary back against Washington, and he managed 67 yards on 11 attempts while scoring once, adding two receptions for good measure. Vereen’s receiving prowess is what the Giants paid for when they signed him to a three-year contract prior to the 2015 campaign, and the former Patriot delivered during his first season in New York, posting 59 receptions. Vereen, 27, is signed for one more year, with a 2017 cap charge just south of $5MM.
With Vereen out, the Giants will likely turn to a committee approach in their backfield. If Jennings can’t go next week against the Vikings, Orleans Darkwa, Bobby Rainey, and rookie Paul Perkins are the best bets for touches.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Kratch: DRC Clearly Not In Giants' Long-Term Plans
- Despite his team-friendly deal and his still considerable abilities, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is clearly not in the Giants‘ long-term plans, James Kratch of NJ.com writes. Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple are entrenched as the team’s top two corners, and it would make no sense for New York to pay $6.5MM for a 30-year-old slot corner after this season (especially when the team could recoup the full $6.5MM by cutting DRC). But there are plenty of cornerback-needy teams for whom Rodgers-Cromartie would represent a significant upgrade, so Kratch opines that the Giants should look to trade DRC prior to this year’s deadline, and if that fails, then the team should release him before free agency begins next year.
Giants Promote Andrew Adams, Waive Michael Hunter
The Giants have swapped one rookie defensive back for another. James Kratch of NJ Advance Media reports (via Twitter) that the team has promoted safety Andrew
Adams and waived cornerback Michael Hunter. The pair of moves are an attempt to replace safeties Mykkele Thompson and Darian Thompson, who are both struggling through injuries.
Waiving Hunter is a bit of a curious move, especially since the team promoted the rookie earlier this week. As ESPN’s Jordan Raanan tweets, the Giants’ indecisiveness ultimately cost the team $26K in salary. The undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma State could be re-signed to the Giants practice squad as soon as Monday, reports Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (via Twitter).
Adams is an undrafted rookie out of UConn. In 44 career games with the Huskies, the safety compiled 263 tackles and nine interceptions. As Roster Resource shows, Adams will be joining safeties Thompson, Landon Collins, and Nat Berhe.
Giants Make Practice Squad Changes
New York Giants
Giants Cut Byron Stingily
- The Giants terminated the contract of offensive tackle Byron Stingily, reports Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (Twitter link). The lineman was on IR with a concussion.
Giants Sign OT To Practice Squad
New York Giants
Giants Bump Michael Hunter To Active Roster
The Giants are set to promote defensive back Michael Hunter to the active roster, as Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com tweets. The move could be a sign that safety Mykkele Thompson will miss time after hurting his knee on Sunday against the Saints. 
Hunter, an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State, just missed the Giants’ 53-man cut but was quickly signed on to the taxi squad earlier this month. Now, he’ll join starters Darian Thompson and Landon Collins plus reserve Nat Berhe on the team’s safety depth chart.
Hunter began his D-I career at Indiana before transferring to Oklahoma State for his senior season. In ten games, Hunter had 20 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, and two interceptions.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Make Practice Squad Moves
New York Giants
Giants Work Out Four Linebackers
- The Giants worked out four linebackers on Saturday after cutting Deontae Skinner from their practice squad. Cassanova McKinzy, Deiontrez Mount, Eric Pinkins and Myke Tavarres worked out for the team, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports.