Although the Giants are not scheduled to play again until Week 12, they have run into a COVID-19 issue. Following Graham Gano‘s coronavirus contraction, three more Giants players have submitted positive tests.
While none of Friday’s cases have affected high-profile Giants players, four positive tests certainly is a concern for the team. The Giants said in a statement they learned of the tests Thursday night; contact tracing is underway. No Giants have been at the team’s facility this week. Gano’s positive test Monday nixed plans for any in-person meetings or light workouts, per Vacchiano.
Players who test positive must remain away from teams’ facilities for 10 days, so Friday’s news will shelve the three latest positive testers for the Giants’ Nov. 29 game against the Bengals. The Giants played without guard starter Will Hernandez in two games earlier this month because of his positive test.
A third-round pick viewed as a developmental tackle, Peart has mixed in on offense since his Week 6 start. The UConn product has played 64 offensive snaps over the past four games, rotating in with starting right tackle Cameron Fleming. Used as a blocking tight end alongside Evan Engram, Smith has started nine games this season and played 48% of Big Blue’s offensive snaps. Pettis, claimed off waivers earlier this month, has yet to make his Giants debut.
Paul Perkins‘ tenure with the Giants has come to an end. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the team has waived the running back. In a corresponding move, the team claimed tight end Kaden Smith off waivers.
Perkins, a 2016 fifth-round pick out of UCLA, emerged during his rookie campaign, compiling 456 rushing yards on 112 carries (good for a 4.1-yard average). He also hauled in 15 receptions for 162 yards. He finished with only 136 offensive yards during the 2017 season, and he spent the entire 2018 campaign on the reserve/non-football injury list.
Perkins was inactive for the team’s first two games this season, so today’s move won’t have a major impact on the Giants running back depth chart. The team will continue rolling with SaquonBarkley, WayneGallman, and ElijhaaPenny at the position.
Smith was a 2019 sixth-round pick out of Stanford. He was cut by the 49ers last weekend.
The 49ers have added RBJeff Wilsonto their 53-man roster ahead of Sunday’s contest against the Bengals. The team will waive TE Kaden Smith to make room on the roster for Wilson, as Pro Football Talk relays.
The team’s running back depth took another hit with Tevin Coleman suffering a high ankle sprain in week 1. High-priced 2018 acquisition Jerick McKinnon was placed on injured reserve before the season with knee woes.
Matt Breida andRaheem Mostert were expected to receive most of the carries on Sunday with FB Kyle Juszczyk also mixing in. It’s unclear how much Wilson will be a factor this week.
Wilson, who the franchise waived before the season and the signed to the practice squad, played in six games for San Francisco last season as a rookie, carrying the ball 66 times for 266 yards. He was a sixth-round pick in the 2018 draft.
Hurd, naturally, is the biggest name in the bunch. The wide receiver had an extended journey through the college ranks after spending three years with Tennessee as a running back before transferring to Baylor, where he moved to wide receiver. Hurd had to sit out the 2017 season, but he made up for lost time in 2018 with 69 catches for 946 yards and four touchdowns. He also got some work out of the backfield where he averaged 4.4 yards per carry and added another three TDs.
With those five plus punter Mitch Wishnowskyunder contract, the Niners have only two to go – first-round pick Nick Bosa and second round wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
