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NFL training camps are just around the corner, which also means competition is about to heat up. On the other side of all that is cutdown day (or cutdown days as the league currently has it structured).
All 32 NFL teams will be forced to trim their roster from 90 men down to 53 men and then establish practice squads. That, of course, means a ton of players will soon be without jobs.
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Earlier this week, Patrik Walker of CBS Sports named New York Giants guard Will Hernandez as a potential post-camp cut, but we were quick to dismiss that. The Giants are just too thin along an already questionable offensive line.
However, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan agrees with Walker that the Giants could end up cutting one of their veteran offensive linemen — just not Hernandez. Instead, he pegged Nate Solder as a veteran in danger of being released.
Veteran in danger: Nate Solder, OT
Why he could get cut: Solder opted out last year and didn’t play particularly well the two years prior. And now it has been 18 months since the veteran offensive tackle has been in a full-contact practice or game. Who is to say his body can hold up at 33 years old after more than a year off? Or that he’s willing to go through the full grind to potentially be a backup for the first time since he was a freshman at Colorado? Only time will tell. Solder is competing this summer not only for the starting right tackle job with Matt Peart, but also a roster spot.
There’s no debate that Solder did not play well in his first two seasons with the Giants, but it’s also easy to understand why. He was dealing with personal issues the likes of which most could not understand or relate to.
Solder’s son, Hunter, was diagnosed with a rare kidney cancer at just three months old and it was a long-winded battle. At the same time, Solder was also dealing with a cancer battle of his own. Those issues contributed to his decision to opt out due to COVID-19 in 2020.
With the light now shining on the Solder family and their health issues no longer at the forefront, he chose to take a pay cut in order to return in 2021.
How long it takes for Solder to get back into football shape remains to be seen, but he continued working in his backyard throughout the pandemic and immediately began hitting the weight room when team facilities reopened. He’s also acknowledged that nothing will be handed to him and he’s just grateful for the opportunity to compete.
Even if Solder does not win the right tackle job outright, it’s hard to envision the Giants cutting him unless he simply can’t keep up at 33 years of age. But given everything Solder has already had to overcome, getting back into playing shape seems like small potatoes.
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