Giants Agree to Terms with Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Re-Sign Two

 Posted by
Mar 132023
 
Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (January 2, 2022)

Rakeem Nunez-Roches – © USA TODAY Sports

The New York Giants have agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent nose tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and re-signed running back Matt Breida and offensive guard Wyatt Davis. Nunez-Roches’ contract is reportedly a 3-year deal, while Breida reportedly signed a 1-year contract worth $2.3 million with incentives.

The 29-year old, 6’2”, 307-pound Nunez-Roches was originally drafted in the 6th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He has spent time with the Chiefs (2015-2018), Indianapolis Colts (2018), and Buccaneers (2018-2022). Nunez-Roches has played in 102 regular-season games with 38 starts. His best season was in 2022 when he played in 17 regular-season games with 10 starts, accruing 33 tackles and two sacks. Nunez-Roches is a good run defender who rarely flashes as a pass rusher. Tough and a good locker room presence.

The Giants signed Breida as an unrestricted free agent from the Buffalo Bills in March 2022. He played in every game, with one start, and finished the season with 54 carries for 220 yards (4.1 yards per carry), and one touchdown. He also caught 20 passes for 118 yards. Breida was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the San Francisco 49ers after the 2017 NFL Draft. He has spent time with the 49ers (2017-2020), Miami Dolphins (2020), and Bills (2021). Breida has played in 81 regular-season games with 20 starts, rushing the ball 520 times for 2,501 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns. He also has caught 103 passes for 847 yards and six touchdowns.

The Giants claimed Davis off of waivers from the Arizona Cardinals in late December 2022. The 6’4”, 315-pound Davis was originally selected in the 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Davis spent time on both the 53-man roster (6 games with no starts) and Practice Squad as a rookie. The Vikings waived him in late August 2022 and the Giants immediately signed him to their Practice Squad. However, a week later the New Orleans Saints signed Davis to their 53-man roster. The Saints waived him in November and he was claimed off of waivers by the Cardinals, who cut him in late December. In all, Davis has played in nine NFL games with no starts. His first real NFL action came in the Giants’ regular-season finale against the Eagles.

For a listing of the team’s free agents, see the New York Giants 2023 Free Agency Scorecard.

Xavier McKinney Returns to Practice; Coordinators Address the Media

 Posted by
Dec 292022
 
Xavier McKinney, New York Giants (October 23, 2022)

Xavier McKinney – © USA TODAY Sports

DECEMBER 29, 2022 NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
DL Leonard Williams (neck), OLB Azeez Ojulari (ankle), and CB Adoree’ Jackson (knee) were limited in practice on Thursday.

“We’re taking it day by day still,” said Jackson, who has been out since Week 11. “Just going out there, doing all the precautions, doing it right by the book and by the plan. Not trying to rush it. Every day, every week it’s getting better.”

S Xavier McKinney, who is currently on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List, has been designated for return and practiced today. The Giants now have 21 days to make a decision on whether to return him to the 53-man roster. If they do not do so within that 3-week timeframe, his season will be officially over.

Head Coach Brian Daboll said he was “not sure” if McKinney could play in Sunday’s game. “Just starting him today,” said Daboll. “I think the first thing is just let him get out here, move around. He hasn’t played in a while, but he’s got a contraption to protect his hand. So, I figure we’ll get him started. He’s been moving around, rehabbing. His lower body’s obviously good. So, we’ll go ahead and let him practice. And then just kind of see where he’s at.”

“I’m trying to (play this weekend),” said McKinney. “I’m telling them I can play, but like I said it’s up to the trainers, the docs.”

GIANTS CLAIM WYATT DAVIS, CUT CHRIS MYARICK…
The Giants claimed OG Wyatt Davis off of waivers from the Arizona Cardinals. The 23-year old, 6’4”, 315-pound Davis was originally selected in the 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Davis spent time on both the 53-man roster (6 games with no starts) and Practice Squad as a rookie. The Vikings waived him in late August 2022 and the Giants immediately signed him to their Practice Squad. However, a week later the New Orleans Saints signed Davis to their 53-man roster. The Saints waived him in November and he was claimed off of waivers by the Cardinals, who cut him on Tuesday. In all, Davis has played in eight NFL games with no starts.

To make room for Davis, the Giants waived FB/TE Chris Myarick, who has played in 13 games this year with eight starts, catching seven passes for 65 yards and a touchdown.

The 6’5”, 261-pound Myarick was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2019 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. He spent all of 2019 and most of 2020 on the Practice Squad of the Dolphins, though he did play in three games in 2020. The Giants signed Myarick was signed to the Practice Squad in early September 2021 and the 53-man roster in November. That year, he ended up laying in eight games with three starts, catching three passes for 17 yards and one touchdown.

THE COACHES SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following coaches are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The players practice again on Friday (11:45AM-1:00PM). Head Coach Brian Daboll, the position coaches, and select players will also address the media.

Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari Doubtful for Titans Game

 Posted by
Sep 092022
 
Kayvon Thibodeau, New York Giants (August 21, 2022)

Kayvon Thibodeau – © USA TODAY Sports

SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
WR Sterling Shepard (Achilles), OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (knee), OLB Azeez Ojulari (calf), and S Dane Belton (clavicle) were all limited in practice on Friday. Thibodeaux and Ojulari have been officially been designated as “doubtful” for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans. Belton is “questionable” while Shepard is expected to play.

“Just need to see (Thibodeaux and Ojulari) be able to do the things they need to do without the pads on: the movement skills, the holding the edge,” said Head Coach Brian Daboll before Friday’s practice.  “If we have to work them out before the game, we’ll work them out before the game if that’s something we need to do. But we’re going to give them as long as they can to see if they are ready to go… I think you’ve got to put the player’s health and safety first and foremost… So, if they’re ready to go, they’ll be ready. And if not, the other guys will.”

PRACTICE SQUAD MOVES…
The New Orleans Saints have signed offensive guard Wyatt Davis off of the New York Giants’ Practice Squad. To fill that vacancy, the Giants signed offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka to the Practice Squad.

The Giants signed Davis to the Practice Squad on September 1st. The 6’4”, 315-pound Davis was originally selected in the 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Davis spent time on both the 53-man roster (6 games with no starts) and Practice Squad as a rookie. The Vikings waived Davis in late August 2022.

The Giants signed Mbaeteka in April 2022 as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program (IPP). The team waived him in late August. The 6’9”, 320-pound Mbaeteka is from Nigeria. He has no high school or collegiate experience playing football.

HEAD COACH BRIAN DABOLL…
The transcript of Brian Daboll’s press conference on Friday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available on YouTube.

GIANTS HUDDLE PODCAST WITH COORDINATORS…
Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka, Defensive Coordinator Don Martindale, and Special Teams Coordinator Thomas McGaughey were interviewed by John Schmeelk of Giants.com. The video is available on YouTube.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
There is no media to the team on Saturday as it travels to Tennessee in preparation for Sunday’s game against the Titans.

Giants Cut Blake Martinez, Claim Tyre Phillips, Re-Sign Three Veterans

 Posted by
Sep 012022
 
Blake Martinez, New York Giants (August 29, 2021)

Blake Martinez – © USA TODAY Sports

GIANTS CUT BLAKE MARTINEZ, CLAIM TYRE PHILLIPS, RE-SIGN THREE VETERANS…
The New York Giants have terminated the contract of inside linebacker Blake Martinez. The team also claimed offensive lineman Tyre Phillips off of waivers from the Baltimore Ravens. ESPN is reporting that Martinez’s release was a mutual decision by both parties.

In addition, as expected, the New York Giants re-signed three vested veterans who they cut yesterday in temporary roster-juggling moves. In order make room for the four players the team claimed off of waivers on Wednesday, the Giants had terminated the contracts of TE Tanner Hudson, OG Max Garcia, DL Nick Williams, and ILB Austin Calitro. Three additional roster spots became available as soon as the Giants were allowed to officially place OG Shane Lemieux, OLB Elerson Smith, and CB Rodarius Williams on short-term Injured Reserve.

Since all four players who were cut were vested veterans, they did not have to pass through waivers. Hudson, Williams, and Calitro were the players who were re-signed to the 53-man roster. Garcia was signed to the Practice Squad.

The Giants also waived TE Ricky Seals-Jones (toe) off of Injured Reserve with an injury settlement.

The Giants placed Blake Martinez on Injured Reserve in late September 2021 with a torn ACL in his left knee. He only played in three games and finished the year with 23 tackles. The Giants signed Martinez as an unrestricted free agent from the Green Bay Packers in March 2020. He had a major impact on the defense in 2020, starting all 16 games and playing in 97 percent of all defensive snaps. Martinez finished the season with a team-high 151 tackles and also accrued nine tackles for losses, three sacks, six quarterback hits, five pass defenses, one interception, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. The 6’2”, 237-pound Martinez was originally drafted in the 4th round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Packers.

The 25-year old, 6’5”, 330-pound Phillips was originally drafted in the 3rd round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Ravens. In his first two years in the NFL, Phillips has played in 22 regular-season games with 13 starts, despite suffering an ankle injury in 2020 and a torn ACL in 2021. He has experience playing both guard spots and right tackle.

The Giants placed Seals-Jones on Injured Reserve on August 23rd with a toe injury that he suffered early in training camp. The Giants signed Seals-Jones in March 2022 as an unrestricted free agent from the Washington Commanders.

MORE PRACTICE SQUAD MOVES…
As previously reported in yesterday’s update, the Giants signed 15 players to their 16-man Practice Squad on Wednesday. On Thursday the team added six more players and released five from the Practice Squad.

Signed to Practice Squad:

  • WR Kalil Pimpleton
  • OG Max Garcia
  • OG Wyatt Davis
  • DL Henry Mondeaux
  • LB Charles Wiley
  • S Tony Jefferson

Released from Practice Squad:

  • WR Jaylon Moore
  • OT Roy Mbaeteka
  • OT Garrett McGhin
  • CB Darren Evans
  • S Nate Meadors 

Garcia was cut by the Giants from their 53-man roster yesterday.

The 23-year old, 5’9”, 172-pound Pimpleton was originally signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft. The Lions waived him on Monday. Pimpleton has experience returning punts.

The 23-year old, 6’4”, 315-pound Davis was originally selected in the 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Davis spent time on both the 53-man roster (6 games with no starts) and Practice Squad as a rookie. The Vikings waived him on Tuesday.

The 26-year old, 6’5”, 280-pound Mondeaux was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the New Orleans Saints after the 2018 NFL Draft. He has spent time with the Saints (2018), Kansas City Chiefs (2019), and Pittsburgh Steelers (2019-2022). The Steelers waived him on Tuesday. Mondeaux has played in 26 NFL games with two starts, accruing 21 tackles and two sacks.

The 24-year old, 6’2”, 251-pound Wiley was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft. The Ravens cut Wiley on Tuesday.

The 30-year old, 5’11”, 211-pound Jefferson was originally signed as undrafted rookie free agent by the Arizona Cardinals after the 2013 NFL Draft. He has spent time with the Cardinals (2013-2016), Ravens (2017-2019, 2021-2022), and San Francisco 49ers (2021). The Ravens cut Jefferson on Tuesday. Robinson has played in 104 regular-season games with 66 starts. However, he has not started a game since 2019, when he tore his ACL mid-season. Robinson has only played in six regular-season games since 2019.

GENERAL MANAGER JOE SCHOEN AND HEAD COACH BRIAN DABOLL…
The transcript of Joe Schoen’s and Brian Daboll’s press conference on Thursday is available in The Corner Forum while the video is available on YouTube.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 NEW YORK GIANTS INJURY REPORT…
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (knee), and OLB Azeez Ojulari (calf) did not practice. RB Sandro Platzgummer also missed practice with a concussion that he suffered in the preseason finale.

TE Daniel Bellinger (concussion) participated in non-contact drills.

THE PLAYERS SPEAK…
Transcripts and video clips of the media sessions with the following players are available in The Corner Forum and on YouTube:

WHAT’S UP NEXT…
The players are off from Friday through Sunday. Head Coach Brian Daboll and select players will address the media via Zoom on Monday.