Giants place Lawrence Cager on IR, add Darrian Beavers to active roster

The New York Giants have placed Lawrence Cager on IR, added Darrian Beavers to the 53-man roster and elevated two from the practice squad.

The New York Giants have placed tight end Lawrence Cager on season-ending injured reserve (IR) with a groin issue. He had previously been listed as doubtful to play on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

Taking Cager’s place on the 53-man roster is second-year linebacker Darrian Beavers, who was signed from the team’s practice squad.

The Giants selected Beavers in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft but he suffered a torn ACL in the team’s second preseason game. He avoided starting this season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list but was waived as a part of final cuts and then added to the practice squad.

If Beavers sees any snaps over the next two games, they will be his first during the regular season in his career.

Additionally, the Giants have also elevated kicker Mason Crosby and wide receiver Dennis Houston from their practice squad.

For Crosby, this will be his second elevation. He made his Giants debut last week, connecting on a 52-yard field goal while also converting both of his point after attempts.

For Houston, it will be his first elevation.

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Giants trim roster to 53: The 5 biggest surprise cuts

The New York Giants set their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday and these were the five biggest names waived, cut or released.

The New York Giants cut their roster down to 53 players on Tuesday.

Unlike in recent years, the exercise was a difficult one as the Giants had more depth in training camp this season

Here are the five biggest surprise cuts the Giants made on Tuesday.

5 Giants with most to gain in preseason finale vs. Jets

The New York Giants close out their preseason against the New York Jets on Saturday night and these five players stand the most to gain.

The New York Giants close out their 2023 preseason schedule this Saturday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey against the New York Jets and jobs will be won — or lost — as a result.

Here are five players with the most to gain in the game, should they play.

Giants drop Panthers, 21-19, in Week 2 of preseason: 7 takeaways

The New York Giants defeated the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 of the preseason and here are 7 quick takeaways from the game.

The New York Giants defeated the Carolina Panthers, 21-19, in their preseason meeting at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Friday night.

It was an impressive showing for the first-team units, especially on offense, and provides the Giants a lot to build upon entering the final week of the preseason.

Here are seven takeaways from the Giants’ Week 2 preseason dub.

Giants meet with LB Anthony Barr but no deal is imminent

Veteran linebacker Anthony Barr did meet with the New York Giants after all, but no deal between the two sides is imminent.

The New York Giants met with veteran linebacker Anthony Barr on Thursday, which came more than a week after general manager Joe Schoen said no meeting was scheduled and that the team intended to take a longer look at second-year linebackers Micah McFadden and Darrian Beavers.

What changed over that span is unclear, but there is no deal imminent between the Giants and Barr.

Josina Anderson of CBS Sports was the first to report that Barr intended to visit the Giants. That came prior to Schoen’s statement on McFadden and Beavers.

Earlier this week, defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said McFadden was currently leading Beavers in the battle to earn a starting job alongside Bobby Okereke. However, he also suggested that he’d be open to more bodies at the position if Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll wanted to go in that direction.

“I’m open to adding anybody that Joe and Dabes think that we need,” Martindale said.

The 31-year-old Barr was a first-round pick (No. 9 overall) of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2014 NFL draft. He spent the first eight seasons of his career in the Twin Cities before spending 2022 with the Dallas Cowboys.

Barr, a four-time Pro Bowler, has appeared in 112 career games (108 starts) and recorded 553 tackles (370 solo, 41 for a loss), eight forced fumbles, 48 QB hits, 18.5 sacks, one safety, 32 passes defensed, five interceptions and one defensive touchdown.

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Giants release second unofficial preseason depth chart: 5 takeaways

The New York Giants have released their unofficial depth chart ahead of the Carolina Panthers preseason game and here are five takeaways.

The New York Giants have released their second unofficial depth chart, this time in advance of their Week 2 preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.

The depth chart was released prior to several of the team’s Tuesday transactions and includes no changes from a week ago. Everything remains exactly the same.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t a few notable takeaways, however. Here are five.

Giants’ Micah McFadden closing in on starting job at ILB

New York Giants DC Wink Martindale says Micah McFadden is leading Darrian Beavers in the battle for a starting spot next to Bobby Okereke.

Many of the position battles this summer at New York Giants training camp are still to be decided.

On defense, the secondary is still in flux, with new faces abound and the linebacker jobs are pretty much spoken for except for one inside position, which is still in play.

On Tuesday, defensive coordinator Wink Martindale updated the media on the intense battle between two second-year players — Darrian Beavers and Micah McFadden.

“I thought Micah played really well in the game and did a lot of good things,” Martindale said. “This is truly Beavers’ rookie year because of the ACL and he’s missed so many practices. Micah has got a year under his belt. It’s a good competition but Micah is definitely leading right now. But we’ll see where that goes and where this takes us.”

McFadden, speaking with reporters after practice, said he takes the compliments with a “grain of salt” and aims to get better on a daily basis. He also said he is communicating better and playing faster in his second season in Martindale’s defense.

McFadden added that he is down about five pounds from last season (from 235 to 230) and has learned from free agent veteran Booby Okereke, who brings leadership to the defense.

Martindale added that he welcomes more players at inside linebacker as Daboll and Schoen deem it necessary. And the Giants did hold workouts after practice. However, is currently unknown if linebacker was one of the positions they were holding tryouts for. That information will come later in the day.

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8 Giants players to watch in preseason opener vs. Lions

The New York Giants open the preseason on Friday night against the Lions and these eight players are worth keeping an eye on (if they play).

The New York Giants will face the Lions in Detroit on Friday night in their 2023 preseason opener.

This is the beginning of the road for some players on their roster but at the same time, will be the beginning of the end for others.

Here is a list of eight players to keep an eye on Friday night, depending on whether or not they appear in the game, that is.

Giants release first unofficial depth chart: 10 takeaways

The New York Giants have released their first unofficial depth chart of the preseason and here are 10 quick takeaways.

The New York Giants released their first unofficial depth chart of the 2023 preseason on Tuesday, just days removed from their game against the Detroit Lions.

Overall, there were very few surprises but several notable takeaways — especially considering how practices have been structured and factoring in the rotations head coach Brian Daboll has been using.

Here are 10 quick takeaways.

Giants’ Darrian Beavers won’t take football for granted after lost season

After missing his rookie season due to a torn ACL, New York Giants LB Darrian Beavers is happy to be back playing the sport he loves.

The New York Giants were excited about linebacker Darrian Beavers when they selected him in the sixth-round of the 2022 NFL draft. However, that excitement was short-lived as the Cincinnati product suffered a torn ACL in Week 2 of the preseason and was lost for the year.

With Beavers now back and healthy, the excitement has returned. The Giants and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale see the upside in the 24-year-old, who refuses to take football for granted after missing his rookie season.

“I’d say maybe it made me sit back and humble myself and not to take it for granted,” Beavers told reporters last week. “I’ve been playing football since I was seven, every year, so sitting out a season is kind of different for you.

“It’s been a blessing. It’s been a blessing to play football again and get back there. It’s been a long year, so it’s good to get out there and play football again.”

Beavers had to knock a little rust off upon his return but says football is a lot like riding a bicycle — it doesn’t take long to get back into a groove.

“I think it’s like a continuous thing. The more and more practice, the more and more reps that I get, the more and more I’ll feel — I guess more comfortable as you’d say. But it’s just been a blessing to play football again and have the chance to put the pads back on,” he said. “It’s still football at the end of the day, so it’s still a fun sport. Like I said, I’ve played since I was seven.

“When you come back and you’re on that field everything blanks out and you just want to play football.”

The Giants are still being careful with Beavers’ workload and although he wants to take as many reps as he can get, he trusts the coaching staff and the medical team.

“I’m just taking it day by day,” he said. “If I’m practicing then I’m practicing, and they’ll let me know that before the practice or the game. Right now, I’m just going day by day.

“(But) like I said, I need as many reps as possible. The most reps I can get, the most practice time I can get on the field, playing football is very important to me.”

It’s unlikely Beavers will see much action (if any at all) on Friday night against the Detroit Lions but by all accounts, he should be a full go come Week 1 of the regular season. And with lacking depth at inside linebacker, the Giants will certainly need him this year.

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