With tight end Daniel Bellinger (eye) expected to miss several weeks following surgery, the New York Giants went out and added to the position on Tuesday.
Nearly two months after he was waived off IR with an injury settlement, the Giants have re-signed tight end Dre Miller to their practice squad.
He previously went by “Andre Miller” and is still listed as a wide receiver on the NFL’s official transaction log despite converting during the offseason.
Miller was originally signed by the Giants as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Maine. He earned that contract after an impressive showing as a rookie minicamp invite.
“It was crazy, it was surreal walking out into the facility and being a part of something so special with all the other guys,” Miller said in June. “Seeing guys that I watched play for years now, like Saquon [Barkley] and Daniel Jones. It didn’t seem real at first.
“I play Madden, and playing with them in Madden and then being around them in person is just crazy to me.”
Miller suffered a broken arm in early August, which derailed his impressive offseason. But he still drew solid praise from head coach Brian Daboll.
“He has some good quickness, and he’s got good ball skills. He was a receiver at Maine. So, to come in here and switch positions, it’s not the easiest thing,” Daboll said. “I was around a fullback by the name of James Develin, who was one of the all-time great players to be around — smart, tough, dependable — was a defensive end. Went through all of these different leagues. And he learned to play that position at a high level, but it was a work in progress.
“I’d say that’s where Andre is. He does some things well. Some of the things he’s doing for the first time ever. It’s such a different game when you’re in the backfield and looking to block guys in the box rather than outside running against the corner, whoever it may be. So, he’s studying hard. He’s got a long way to go to continue to improve, but he has a skillset that he’s done a good job with it so far.”
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Miller is likely to be a practice squad elevation on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
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