Tag: Jakob Johnson

Former Patriots fullback recalls epic Tom Brady story

Jakob Johnson once played with a broken shoulder blade for Tom Brady

Former New England Patriots fullback Jakob Johnson had an epic story about playing with Tom Brady.

Johnson and the Patriots offense were at the goal line in a 2019 game. The first play they ran was for Johnson, who hit a linebacker as he tried to run through the hole. Little did he know, the play resulted in him breaking his shoulder blade.

Initially, Johnson thought about going to the sideline, but then Brady looked at him and said, “Jak, you okay, baby?”

Johnson admitted that comment from Brady prompted him to get back up and try to tough out another play. When the Patriots failed to get into the end zone a second time, Johnson realized his shoulder was dangling to his side.

He didn’t realize the damage he’d done until he got x-rays of the injury.

“I can always say I toughed out a broken shoulder blade because Tom Brady smiled at me. Listen, if Tom Brady asks you to get on up and get the score, then that’s what you do,” Johnson told NFL on DAZN.

Johnson had a successful career with the Patriots playing from 2019-2021. He is currently a free agent, after last playing on the New York Giants’ practice squad.

This story just goes to show the incredible respect Brady’s teammates always had for him on the football field.

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Giants sign OL Tyre Phillips, QB Tim Boyle to practice squad

The New York Giants have signed OL Tyre Phillips and QB Tim Boyle to their practice squad, and released three others.

On Tuesday, the New York Giants added offensive lineman Tyre Phillips and quarterback Tim Boyle to their practice squad.

Phillips, 27, was the Baltimore Ravens’ third-round pick out of Mississippi State in 2020. He played in 22 games over two seasons in Baltimore, starting 13.

Phillips played 22 games for the Giants (starting 14) from 2022-23 with a stop on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad sprinkled in the middle. He suffered a quad injury in Week 17 last season and was not re-signed by the Giants this offseason.

Boyle, 30, is a well-traveled backup quarterback by trade who has played for Green Bay, Detroit, Chicago, the Jets, Houston, and Miami. He has five NFL starts to his credit.

Boyle is likely here to fill out the quarterback room and serve as the emergency quarterback as it has become obvious the Giants do not want to put Daniel Jones back out on the field under any circumstances.

Jones has a $23 million injury guarantee in his contract. The Giants will almost certainly cut him loose after this season.

In corresponding roster moves, the Giants have released linebacker Curtis Bolton, offensive lineman Garret Greenfield, and fullback Jakob Johnson from their practice squad.

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Giants place kicker Greg Joseph on IR, elevated kicker Jude McAtamney

The New York Giants have placed kicker Greg Joseph on IR, elevated kicker Jude McAtamney, and made several other roster moves.

The New York Giants have placed kicker Greg Joseph on injured reserve (IR) with an abdomen issue after he popped up on Friday’s injury report.

Joseph is the second Giants kicker to land on IR this season, joining Graham Gano, who ironically suffered a hamstring injury during a Week 2 game against the Washington Commanders — Big Blue’s Sunday opponent.

In Gano’s absence, Joseph made 13 of his 16 field goal attempts and all six of his point-after attempts.

With the need for a replacement, the Giants elevated Irish-born kicker Jude McAtamney from their practice squad. He came to the team via the International Player Pathway Program and is on a roster exemption.

For McAtamney, this is his first standard elevation.

Additionally, having run out of elevations, the Giants signed linebacker Tomon Fox, who primarily plays special teams, to their 53-man roster. His spot on the practice squad was filled by fullback Jakob Johnson, who was once again re-signed.

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Giants sign Marcellus Johnson, Garret Greenfield to practice squad

The New York Giants have signed offensive tackles Marcellus Johnson and Garret Greenfield to their practice squad.

The New York Giants continued shuffling their practice squad over the past 48 hours beginning with the release of safety Gervarrius Owens.

On Wednesday, the team also announced that fullback Jakob Johnson had his practice squad contract terminated, again, leaving two available spots.

In corresponding moves, the Giants re-signed offensive tackle Marcellus Johnson and added fellow offensive tackle Garret Greenfield.

The 6-foot-4, 307-pound Johnson signed with the Giants as an undrafted rookie free agent back in May. He was released as a part of final cuts after appearing in three preseason games, signed to the practice squad, and then released again on September 10. He was picked up by the Minnesota Vikings but released this past Tuesday.

Greenfield (6-foot-6, 310 pounds), a two-time FCS national champion, was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted rookie free agent out of South Dakota State in early May. The DC Defenders also selected him in the fourth round of the 2024 UFL draft.

The Seahawks released Greenfield as a part of final cuts, signed him to their practice squad, and then released him a day later.

All spots on the Giants’ practice squad are now filled.

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Giants cut Jakob Johnson, sign Ty Summers to active roster

The New York Giants have terminated the contract of FB Jakob Johnson, signed LB Ty Summers and made some changes to their practice squad.

The New York Giants have terminated the contract of veteran fullback Jakob Johnson. Again.

Johnson has spent months on and off the Giants’ active roster and practice squad, and will likely be added back in the near future.

In addition to releasing Johnson, the Giants also placed tight end Lawrence Cager on practice squad injured reserve (IR).

“Cager will probably be down here on IR,” head coach Brian Daboll revealed before the team’s walkthrough practice on Tuesday.

Replacing Cager is tight end Joel Wilson, who was among Monday’s group of workout players.

“The tight ends play quite a bit of football, physical. We’ve used a lot of multiple tight end groupings. So, for look teams and show teams down the road, I think we need some legs,” Daboll said of working out tight ends.

Wilson, 24, signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Central Michigan in 2023. He’s also spent time with the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers but has not appeared in a regular season game.

Meanwhile, replacing Johnson on the active roster is linebacker Ty Summers, who was out of standard elevations.

https://twitter.com/JordanRaanan/status/1838912871784173686

With an open spot remaining on the practice squad, Johnson is likely to be re-signed and then elevated ahead of Thursday’s game.

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Giants-Browns Week 3: Offense, defense and special teams snap counts

The New York Giants won their Week 3 game against the Cleveland Browns. Here are the snap counts on offense, defense and special teams.

The New York Giants overcame an ugly start to pick up their first win of the season on Sunday afternoon against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field.

The game itself was the tale of two halves. The Giants dominated offensively over the first two quarters, seemingly moving the ball at will. However, they became overly conservative in the second half and it nearly cost them the game.

The defense ultimately held things down and the offense could have put more points on the board, but running back Devin Singletary selflessly stopped short of the goal line with roughly 2:00 remaining in the game to secure the win.

Here are the snap counts that contributed to the Giants’ Week 3 win.

Offensive snaps: 72
Defensive snaps: 67
Special teams snaps: 26

Despite wide receiver Darius Slayton coming out of the game due to a thumb injury, Jalin Hyatt saw little increase in his usage. He was targeted on one deep pass, but it was slightly overthrown and out of his reach.

Fullback Jakob Johnson saw just two offensive snaps but was among those blocking on Singletary’s early touchdown run.

The underrated star of Sunday’s win has to be linebacker Azeez Ojulari, who rotated in for both Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns (groin). He was all over the field, making plays against the run and the pass. He finished the game with two tackles, one sack, and two QB hits but it felt like a lot more.

And how about rookie safety Tyler Nubin taking 100 percent of the defensive snaps?

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Giants sign Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Jakob Johnson

The New York Giants have signed WR Imhir Smith-Marsette and FB Jakob Johnson, and made some changes to their practice squad.

With the news that kick returner Gunner Olszewski could be out for an extended period with a groin injury, the New York Giants signed veteran returner man and wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette, who worked out for the team on Monday.

In addition, the Giants added linebacker Curtis Bolton to the practice squad.

Smith-Marsette, 25, is a Newark native who played his college ball at Iowa and was the Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year in 2018.

Smith-Marsette was a fifth-round pick (157 overall) of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2021 NFL draft and played with the Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs (where he earned a Super Bowl ring) and the Carolina Panthers.

Last November, Smith-Marsette returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown for the Panthers.

In 33 career games (one start), Smith-Marsette has caught 14 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns, rushed nine times for 73 yards and one touchdown, returned 37 punts for 322 yards and one touchdown, and returned five kickoffs for 100 yards.

Meanwhile, the Giants have also re-signed Jakob Johnson to their 53-man roster. It marks the seventh transaction he’s been involved in since cutdown day.

Finally, the Giants announced that linebacker Carter Coughlin (pec) has been waived/injured. Once he clears waivers, he will revert to injured reserve (IR).

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Giants re-sign Jakob Johnson to practice squad, release Miles Boykin

The New York Giants have re-signed TE/FB Jakob Johnson to their practice squad for the second time in a week.

The New York Giants have added fullback/tight end Jakob Johnson back to the practice squad and released wide receiver Mile Boykin.

Johnson, a fullback who can also function as a tight end, has been being bounced back and forth between the active roster, the street, and the practice squad since the Giants initially signed him on August 16.

Since then, the Giants released Johnson during final cuts on August 27 but then quickly added him back to the practice squad on August 28. He was elevated to the active roster on August 29 but then released on September 1 to make room for cornerback Adoree’ Jackson.

Boykin was signed to a one-year deal in April and was also released during final cuts on August 27. He was re-signed to the practice squad on August 28.

Johnson, 29, was born in Germany and first came to the NFL International Player Pathway Program with the New England Patriots in 2019. Since then, he’s spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders before joining the Giants this summer.

Johnson played his high school ball in Jacksonville, Florida, and then in college for Tennessee. He is a part owner of the Stuttgart Surge of the ELF (European League of Football).

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Giants release fullback Jakob Johnson

The New York Giants have again released FB Jakob Johnson but are expected to sign him back to the practice squad.

The New York Giants made the signing of veteran cornerback Adoree’ Jackson official on Saturday and in a corresponding roster move, they released fullback Jakob Johnson. Again.

Johnson, who was signed late in training camp, has played a game of musical chairs over the past week. He was released as a part of final cuts, signed to the practice squad, and then elevated to the 53-man roster after offensive lineman Austin Schlottmann landed on injured reserve (IR).

Now Johnson is likely headed back to the practice squad, which will require a corresponding roster move of its own.

The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Johnson went undrafted out of Tennessee in 2018 before spending a season with Germany’s Stuttgart Scorpions. He made his NFL debut in 2019 with the New England Patriots as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.

Johnson, 29, spent the past two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he worked closely with current Giants offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo.

Born in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, Johnson remains a co-owner and executive of the Scorpions franchise.

In 67 career games (34 starts), Johnson has rushed for 105 yards and one touchdown, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. He serves primarily as a blocker and also plays special teams.

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Giants place Austin Schlottmann on IR, add Jakob Johnson to 53-man roster

The New York Giants have placed backup center Austin Schlottmann (leg) on IR and signed FB Jakob Johnson to the 53-man roster.

The New York Giants were plagued with injuries along the offensive line in 2023 and things have not gotten off to an encouraging start here in 2024.

On Thursday, just ahead of their final practice of the week, head coach Brian Daboll revealed that offensive lineman Austin Schlottmann, the team’s backup center, has been placed on injured reserve (IR) after sustaining a leg injury on Wednesday.

Daboll did not reveal the exact nature of Schlottmann’s injury but suggested it may be long-term and that the veteran is likely out for more than four weeks.

With an open spot on the 53-man roster, the Giants elevated fullback/tight end Jakob Johnson.

Johnson was signed late in training camp and waived as a part of final cuts before being signed to the practice squad. It was expected that he’d be a weekly elevation until a spot on the main roster became available.

That happened sooner than the Giants would have liked.

Filling Johnson’s spot on the practice squad will be 27-year-old cornerback Duke Shelley.

A sixth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2019 NFL draft, Shelley has been somewhat of a journeyman, also making stops with the Minnesota Vikings (two stints), Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Rams.

In 52 games (11 starts), Shelley has recorded 92 tackles (69 solo), one fumble recovery, 14 passes defensed, and one interception.

In 2022, Shelley earned a career-high Pro Football Focus grade of 81.5.

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