53 PICKUP
Jets & Giants make final cuts; see who’s in and who’s out
The Giants whittled their roster from 90 to 53 on Saturday, which determined their backup quarterback, sorted out their starting kicker and even included an unexpected trade. Here’s how the roster shaped out:
QUARTERBACKS
IN: Eli Manning, Geno Smith, Davis Webb OUT: Josh Johnson
What you should know: The Giants will carry three quarterbacks as Smith gets the nod over Johnson in a closely contested battle for the backup role while Webb will suit up as the third-string signal caller.
RUNNING BACKS
IN: Paul Perkins, Shane Vereen, Orleans Darkwa, Wayne Gallman OUT: Khalid Abdullah, Shaun Draughn What you should know: Abdullah did not do much while Draughn was injured most of the preseason, giving him a short window to try to leapfrog veteran Darkwa or fourth-round pick Gallman.
FULLBACK
IN: Shane Smith OUT: Jacob Huesman
What you should know: Smith beats out Huesman as the Giants will carry a fullback for the first time under head coach Ben McAdoo.
WIDE RECEIVERS
IN: Odell Beckham Jr, Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard, Dwayne Harris, Tavarres King, Roger Lewis Jr.
OUT: Travis Rudolph, Marquis Bundy, Jerome Lane, Canaan Severin, Ed Eagan
What you should know: The most notable cut here is undrafted rookie Rudolph, who impressed throughout the preseason, finishing with nine catches for 157 yards. He will have to clear waivers before the Giants can add him to their practice squad.
TIGHT ENDS
IN: Rhett Ellison, Evan Engram, Matt LaCosse, Jerrel Adams OUT: Will Tye
What you should know: The Giants no longer had a spot left for Tye after significantly improving the position as well as having a healthy LaCosse impress throughout preseason.
OFFENSIVE LINE
IN: Chad Wheeler, Justin Pugh, Bobby Hart, Brett Jones, Weston Richburg, Ereck Flowers, D.J. Fluker, John Jerry
OUT: Adam Bisnowaty, Jon Halapio, Jarron Jones, Matt Rotheram
What you should know: The Giants go with eight linemen, with undrafted Wheeler getting the nod over seventh-round pick Bisnowaty. Bisnowaty and Halapio are likely practice squad players if they clear waivers.
DEFENSIVE LINE
IN: Jason Pierre-Paul, Olivier Vernon, Damon Harrison, Jay Bromley, Dalvin Tomlinson, Romeo Okwara, Avery Moss, Kerry Wynn, Robert Thomas
OUT: Devin Taylor, Jordan Williams, Bobby Richardson, Owa Odighzuwa,
What you should know: Both DE Devin Taylor and DL Jordan Williams made some big plays in the first game against the Steelers, but in an already deep field of talent neither showed much after that.
LINEBACKERS
IN: Jonathan Casillas, B.J. Goodson, Devon Kennard, Calvin Munson, J.T. Thomas, Keenan Robinson
OUT: Deontae Skinner, Curtis Grant, Chris Casher, Steven Daniels,
What you should know: The Giants placed Mark Herzlich on the IR with a stinger and that could be the end of his seven-year career. The move, along with cutting Skinner, opened the door for Munson and Thomas to make the team.
SAFETIES
IN: Landon Collins, Darian Thompson, Andrew Adams, Nat Berhe OUT: Trey Robinson, Ryan Murphy, Eric Pinkins What you should know: The Giants were pretty set at safety with Berhe securing the final spot.
CORNERBACKS
IN: Janoris Jenkins, Eli Apple, Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, Ross Cockrell, Michael Hunter Jr. OUT: Donte Deayon, Nigel Tribune, Tay Glover-Wright, Tim Scott
What you should know: With concern surrounding depth in the secondary, the Giants acquired Cockrell in a trade with the Steelers on Saturday, making Deayon the odd man out.
KICKERS
IN: Aldrick Rosas OUT: Mike Nugent
What you should know: The Giants go younger with Rosas after bringing in veteran Mike Nugent early in training camp. It was Rosas’ job to lose all along and he did not miss a field goal throughout preseason games.
PUNTER
IN: Brad Wing Wing was unchallenged as punter.
LONG SNAPPER
IN: Zak DeOssie What you should know: After Manning, DeOssie is the longest-tenured Giant. —Healy