Tye's future with Jints on bubble
After starting 17 games and catching 90 passes over his first two seasons, Giants tight end Will Tye never expected to find himself in this position — on the Big Blue roster bubble, possibly the odd man out.
“No. No, definitely not,’’ Tye told the Post. “But honestly, it comes with the job. You don’t expect it, but you’re always subject to change, so it doesn’t really [surprise] you as much as people would think or like it to. That’s that undrafted lifestyle, no matter what every year. They say [it’s like that for] everybody, but everybody knows it’s not everybody.”
No, but it’s that way for Tye. It’s like that when you’re an undrafted rookie free agent out of Stony Brook, one who had to claw him way onto the practice squad and onto the roster two years ago. But he eventually caught 42 passes to make the PFWA All-Rookie team, and backed that up with 48 catches last year.
Tye even had four catches for 66 yards in last season’s playoff loss to the Packers, and clearly has the most experience playing with Eli Manning, things that should work in his favor. But none of that stopped Giants general manager Jerry Reese from signing Rhett Ellison in free agency and drafting Evan Engram in the first round.
With those two atop the depth chart, the Giants (who averaged just 88.3 rushing yards last year), desperate for better run blocking, and with Jerell Adams seemingly having the edge, Tye goes into Thursday’s preseason finale at New England with an uphill climb to beat out Matt LaCosse for a spot on the roster.
Good thing Tye is used to having to fight for what he gets.
“My rookie year definitely [helped]. Being the sixth or seventh guy on the depth chart definitely was helpful for this year,’’ Tye said. “But it’s always a battle. I had that my whole life, even at Florida State [where he played before Stony Brook], in high school, to come out on top. I’m ready for whatever happens. I’m ready for Thursday night, that’s what I’m ready for.”
For Tye — and others on the bubble — Thursday is their last chance to make a statement to coach Ben McAdoo. Though McAdoo admits preseason doesn’t translate to the regular season, and he just wants to see his first team get competitive work against other team’s starters, the fourth and final game is a chance for players like Tye to make the team.
“We want to give every player who’s on the bubble an opportunity to show what they can do,” said McAdoo.
The importance of closing the preseason with a good performance against the Patriots isn’t lost on Tye.
“Yes. Any game you play [is big], but definitely this Thursday being the last one, it’s important,’’ Tye said. “You want to go out and fire on all cylinders whatever you do on the field — special teams, offense, defense, receiving, blocking. Just make a play, make all the plays you can, that’s for sure.”
Not only to impress just Big Blue, but anybody else who’s watching. Tye got just a single target in last weekend’s preseason win over the Jets — catching it for 18 yards — and has gotten limited snaps with the starters all camp and preseason. If the Giants opt not to keep him, expect them to try to deal him elsewhere on cutdown day, with teams having to get down to 53 players by Saturday.