Tag: Kalil Pimpleton

Former Lions training camp darling is thriving in the CFL

Former Lions training camp darling Kalil Pimpleton made a huge splash in his CFL debut for the Ottawa Redblacks

Back in the summer of 2022, a diminutive rookie wide receiver made a big splash in Detroit Lions training camp. Kalil Pimpleton, all 5-foot-8 and 172 pounds of him, captivated the fans in Allen Park practices as well as viewing audiences in the preseason with his quickness, speed and joie de vivre.

Pimpleton finished second on the Lions that preseason in both catches and yards, hauling in three passes in all three exhibition games in 2022.

Pimpleton ultimately didn’t make the Lions roster that year, but the Central Michigan alum has found a new place to thrive. Pimpleton is now playing for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League.

The Muskegon native seized the night with a dazzling performance in his debut north of the border. Pimpleton caught four passes for 153 yards and a touchdown in Ottawa’s win over Edmonton. His final catch set up the game-winning field goal with just two seconds left on the clock, too.

It didn’t work out for Pimpleton in Detroit, or with the New York Giants in 2023, but he sure looks good in his new Canadian home. Congrats to Pimpleton.

Giants fall to Jets, 32-24, in Week 3 of preseason: 7 takeaways

The New York Giants fell to the New York Jets in Week 3 of the preseason and here are 7 quick takeaways from the game.

The New York Giants dropped their preseason finale to the New York Jets, 32-24, on Saturday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Here are seven takeaways from the final game of their exhibition season.

Giants fall to Jets in preseason finale as injuries pile up

The New York Giants dropped their preseason finale to the New York Jets and lost several players to injury in the process.

The New York Giants faced off against the New York Jets on Saturday night at MetLife Stadium in the final preseason game for both teams.

The game held significance in several ways. It was the Jets debut for superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the final game for many young hopefuls on both sides who are competing for roster spots to strut their stuff as final cuts are due Tuesday afternoon.

The Giants, as the ‘home’ team, wore their blue jerseys while the Jets wore all white. Two veterans — wide receiver Sterling Shepard and linebacker Jihad Ward — served as game captains for Big Blue.

Gametime temperature was a balmy 84 degrees with 49 percent humidity and a slight wind of six miles per hour.

11 Giants who need to finish the preseason strong

The 2023 NFL preseason is entering its final days and these 11 New York Giants players need to finish strong or risk losing a roster spot.

The New York Giants must trim their roster down to 53 players by 4:00 p.m. ET on August 29, so the upcoming preseason game against the New York Jets might be the last time some of these players don a Giants uniform.

There are at least 11 players who need to finish the preseason on an uptick so that they can either a) secure a roster spot or b) a place on the Giants’ 16-man practice squad.

Let’s take a look.

Giants have logjam at wide receiver

The New York Giants will bring at least 15 wide receivers into training camp and half of those won’t make the 53-man roster.

The New York Giants will be taking 15 wide receivers to training camp this week, leading to the question — what is the plan?

Are they just throwing options against the wall to see what sticks? Or are they simply creating competition to see who will rise, or are they safeguarding themselves in case of a repeat of last year when they suffered an unusually high number of injuries?

It could be a little of both. The team found themselves shorthanded last season and they don’t want to get caught short again.

The unit will be run again by assistant coach Mike Groh and he will have a diverse group of players of all shapes, sizes and skill sets who possess a varied level of NFL experience.

Of the 15 players, perhaps eight of them will make the team’s final 53-man roster, and — if things go right — one or two of them could end up leading the team in targets and/or catches.

But that will be difficult. The Giants’ big move this offseason on offense was the trade for former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller. He is expected to be heavily involved in the passing game.

So is running back Saquon Barkley, when he returns from his ‘holdout.’ Barkley has been the Giants’ best receiver when healthy the past few years and there’s no reason to stop throwing him the football.  Between he and Waller, there will be fewer opportunities for the wideouts, unless something changes.

So, what should fans expect this summer at wide receiver?

Expect the veterans to get the benefit of the doubt, at least in the beginning. That means initial work for Sterling Shepard, who is returning from another lost season due to injury, and Darius Slayton. Toss in Isaiah Hodgins and Wan’Dale Robinson (when he’s ready), along with free agents Parris Campbell, Jamison Crowder, Jeff Smith, Cole Beasley, and rookie Jalin Hyatt.

The Giants will try to forge a serviceable unit out of those names. They are top-heavy on slot receivers it seems so they might thin the herd there in favor of some outside options.

The others will all have to have monster camps to even be considered. Collin Johnson, David Sills and rookie Bryce Ford-Wheaton are interesting names to watch but where do they fit? Jaydon Mickens, Makai Polk and Kalil Pimpleton are long shots and will have to show special teams prowess to stick.

Wide receiver will be a heavily contested unit this summer and will be a fun one to follow.

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Giants minicamp: Notes, videos and highlights from Day 2

News, notes, highlights and a few videos from Day 2 of the New York Giants’ 2023 mandatory minicamp.

The New York Giants were back on the field for their final practice of mandatory minicamp on Wednesday. They will now head into summer break and are not required to return to East Rutherford until the start of training camp in late July.

The day began with offensive assistants meeting with members of the media before head coach Brian Daboll took the podium for a press conference. Then it was off to practice.

Here is some news, notes, highlights and videos from Day 2 of minicamp:

Giants elevate Jashaun Corbin, Kalil Pimpleton from practice squad

The New York Giants have elevated RB Jashaun Corbin and WR Kalil Pimpleton from their practice squad.

The New York Giants have elevated running back Jashaun Corbin and wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton from their practice squad ahead of a Wild Card game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Both are standard elevations.

Neither Corbin nor Pimpleton have been elevated this season and Sunday will mark the first NFL game for both rookies. It’s unclear how the Giants intend to use either or if they’re simply there to provide some additional depth.

The Giants have had some minor issues at wide receiver this week with Marcus Johnson dealing with an ankle injury and Isaiah Hodgins dealing with an ankle injury.

Hodgins was a late addition to the injury report but did not receive a game designation. Both he and Johnson are expected to play, assuming Johnson isn’t listed as an inactive.

Corbin and Pimpleton have return experience, so it’s possible we see one or both in those roles.

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Kalil Pimpleton says he’ll do whatever it takes to help Giants

Kalil Pimpleton is happy to be a member of the New York Giants and says he’s ready to do whatever it is the team needs.

The New York Giants added an interesting player to their practice squad this week in former Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton.

Pimpleton was signed as an undrafted rookie out of Central Michigan by the Lions this spring and was waived during final roster cuts last week. While at training camp, his exploits were captured on HBO’s Hard Knocks, of whom the Lions were the subjects this summer.

Pimpleton recently told TMZ Sports that he intends to hit the ground running with the Giants and will do whatever it takes to help his new team.

“I’m a New York Giant and I’m ready to get to work,” Pimpleton said.

He also believes the spotlight that Hard Knocks shone on him helped him get recognized by the Giants. “Any publicity is good publicity.”

Pimpleton may not be called upon this year to help the big club but his game bears a striking resemblance to that of Wan’Dale Robinson, the Giants’ second-round pick in this year’s NFL draft. Both players are small in stature and possess mercurial traits with the football in their hands.

Here’s a quick sample of what Pimpleton can do on the football field.

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Giants make 21 transactions; host eight tryouts and one visit

The New York Giants officially made 21 transactions on Thursday and hosted a total of nine players in East Rutherford — most on tryouts.

The New York Giants made a flurry of transactions on Thursday that impacted nearly every aspect of their team — active roster, practice squad and injured reserve.

The team also had a slew of free agents in for workouts and visits with at least one being signed, and potentially more to come.

Here’s a recap of Thursday’s moves.

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Kalil Pimpleton signs with the Giants practice squad

Rookie WR Kalil Pimpleton signs with the Giants practice squad after being waived by the Lions

One of the more popular Detroit Lions preseason players in 2022 will don a different uniform now. Wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton has signed to the practice squad with the New York Giants.

Pimpleton, an undrafted rookie from Central Michigan, became a fan favorite for his quickness, exciting style of play and favorable appearances on Hard Knocks. But his lack of size (5-foot-9, 172 pounds) and trouble cleanly catching the ball made him expendable when the Lions made their roster cutdowns.

Pimpleton took a visit with the Giants on Wednesday and agreed to join New York’s practice squad a day later. He joins a receiving corps that also features former Lions standout Kenny Golladay. The Lions visit the Giants in Week 11 and Pimpleton could be up on the active roster by that point if he tightens up his catching or makes a mark as a return specialist.

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