Brian Daboll praises Giants’ makeshift offensive line

The New York Giants’ offensive line has been far from great in recent weeks but they have been better, drawing the praise of Brian Daboll.

The New York Giants snapped their four-game losing streak on Sunday with a gritty, 14-7, win over the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium.

The Giants improved to 2-5 on the year and quite possibly saved their season in the process.

Head coach Brian Daboll has taken a ton of criticism this season but he has not taken his eye off the light at the end of the tunnel.

“I’ve said this before, it’s an up-and-down league. It’s a humbling league, but if you can stay consistent with your approach,” Daboll told reporters after the game. “You make slight adjustments and your belief in the players. It’s not for everybody, you gotta be able to do that. It’s not gonna be perfect all the time and there’s definitely gonna be some struggles and again, one week has nothing to do with the next week.

“So, whether we lost a close game to the Bills, we won this close game tonight, it really has no bearing on what we do next week to keep a consistent attitude, to work with great intention. That’s what’s important to get ready for a game that’s gonna be difficult every week regardless of who you play and focus on your job and putting the team first. Again, it’s not always easy, but that’s what the job requires.”

One of the biggest challenges has been along the offensive line, where seven of the nine players that made the final roster out of training camp are either on IR, off the roster, or on the sidelines nursing an injury.

The makeshift offensive line has been holding up despite the loss of both starting tackles (Andrew Thomas, Evan Neal) and stud rookie center (John Michael Schmitz).

On Sunday, the Giants went with Justin ‘straight off the couch’ Pugh at left tackle and Tyre Phillips — signed off the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad last week — at right tackle.

Ben Bredeson filled in again at center with Mark Glowinski and Marcus McKethan at guard.

“They’re pros, the guys that were out there tonight, and they worked extremely hard during the week and a couple of days at practice, we were moving guys around and we settled on it say Thursday of how it was gonna go and if (tackle) Evan (Neal) could go, and if he could go, then we had another kind of line up change, if you would. But (offensive linemen coach) Bobby (Johnson) has met with those guys early and late, and he have a kind of revolving door there. Tough competitors,” he said.

Daboll was asked how he settled on the configuration of the line.

“It’s something we talked about as a coaching staff. I think the communication was better. Just having Pugh, a veteran, Bredeson and Glow(inski) kind of opposite because they worked together as well,” he said. “With Tyre back and he was only back for a week, some code words and things like that, even though he picked up, I’d say almost all of it on the way back, it’s still helpful to have someone right next to him that’s been out there and done it, veteran wise.”

Thomas is likely to return this week at left tackle, which will send the line into yet another iteration — the eighth in as many games. We’ll find out later in the week if Neal and Schmitz will play as well.

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Giants place Joshua Ezeudu on IR, reunite with Tyre Phillips

The New York Giants have placed OL Joshua Ezeudu on IR and signed OL Tyre Phillips from the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad.

The New York Giants continued to tweak and augment their embattled offensive line on Tuesday signing Tyre Phillips from the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad and Joshua Miles from the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons.

Both players were added to the active roster. To make room for the duo, the Giants placed Joshua Ezeudu (toe) on injured reserve. They already had an open spot on the 53-man roster after waiving Jalen Mayfield on Monday.

This is Phillips’ secede stint with the Giants. He spent all of last season and training camp this year with the team before being released. He was signed by the Eagles before the season.

Miles was a seventh-round selection of the Arizona Cardinals out of Morgan State in 2019 and played four seasons for the Cards, appearing in 17 games. He was signed to the Falcons’ practice squad before the season after being cut by them in training camp.

One move many anticipated, the adding of Justin Pugh to the active roster, has not occurred as of yet. As a practice squad player, he can be signed by any team to their active roster.

Finally, after clearing waivers, Mayfield was added back to the team’s practice squad, filling the spot vacated when the Carolina Panthers signed defensive back Alex Smith.

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Eagles announce 4 practice squad moves ahead of season opener at Patriots

The #Eagles have signed LB Nicholas Morrow and OL Tyre Phillips to the practice squad, while releasing CB Tiawan Mullen and LB Kyron Johnson from the practice squad

The Eagles have officially started preparation for the Patriots, officially announcing four roster moves ahead of Sunday afternoon.

Philadelphia signed linebacker Nicholas Morrow and offensive tackle Tyre Phillips to the 16-man practice squad. In corresponding moves, the team released linebacker Kyron Johnson, and cornerback Tiawan Mullen.

7 recently cut or waived players Raiders should consider adding

Still some talent out there to be had from roster cuts. Here are 7 of them the Raiders should consider adding.

There are always a few players that teams cut who instantly stun a lot of people. Many of those players are talented enough or fit another team’s need so well, that they are scooped up quickly or claimed off waivers. But not all of them.

Some players still slip through and either remain unsigned or join a team’s practice squad.

Either way, what many refer to as the “final 53-man roster” is anything but final. A better term is “initial 53” because more moves inevitably occur afterward.

Sometimes those moves are a team seeing a player or players become available that they like better than those they kept initially. Other moves include injured players who the team expects to have back in short order, but in order to be added to the IR Designated for Return list, those players must be on the roster after the initial cuts are made.

Now that the dust has settled from the cuts, signings, and claims, I have compiled a list of those players still out there who the Raiders should consider adding this week as they prepare for the season opener.

Report: Eagles to sign Tyre Phillips to the practice squad

The Philadelphia #Eagles are signing Tyre Phillips to the practice squad ahead of the 2023 season opener via @Thacover2NFL

Tyre Phillips didn’t make our list of nine recently released players that the Eagles should be interested in, but he’s headig to the NovaCare Complex according to Jordan Schultz.

After getting cut from the Giants practice squad, Phillips is heading to Philadelphia.

The Giants released Phillips after signing him to the practice squad, replacing him with former Ravens offensive lineman Jaylon Thomas.

A valuable backup, Phillips is a valued backup who can play multiple positions, and logged five starts for New York in 2022.

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Giants shuffle practice squad after 15-player workout

The New York Giants made six practice squad transactions following a massive 15-player workout on Thursday.

The New York Giants made several changes to their practice squad on Thursday evening, officially adding six players while releasing two others.

Offensive tackle Tyre Phillips and cornerback Gemon Green had their practice squad contracts terminated, effectively giving the Giants six open spots.

Those spots were filled by the additions of running back Taiwan Jones, cornerback Kaleb Hayes, wide receiver Dennis Houston, tight end Tyree Jackson, guard Jalen Mayfield, and tackle Jaylon Thomas.

The 35-year-old Jones, a 2011 fourth-round pick of the Las Vegas Raiders, provides the most NFL experience of the group.

Jones has appeared in 137 career games, playing primarily on special teams. He has a history of returning kickoffs and could be an intriguing potential option for Thomas McGaughey down the line.

Mayfield, a former third-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons, is also an interesting addition. He started all 16 games at left guard in 2021 but missed last season with a lower back injury.

The roster shuffle came after the Giants hosted 15 free agents for workouts in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Thursday.

The 15 players who worked out were Thomas, Jones, cornerbacks Kalon Barnes and D’Angelo Mandell, linebackers Milo Eifler, Aaron Patrick and Ulysees Gilbert, wide receivers T.J. Luther, Reggie Roberson, Josh Vann and Dezmon Patton, edge rusher Jeremiah Martin, quarterback Adrian Martinez, offensive lineman Lecitus Smith, and safety Mark Webb.

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18 recently cut players the Colts should consider adding

The Colts will have plenty of options to choose from on the waiver wire.

The Indianapolis Colts officially set the initial 53-man roster before Tuesday’s deadline, but more changes to the group are expected to come.

With over 1,000 players being waived and released in one fell swoop Tuesday afternoon, the Colts will have a strong chance to claim as many players as they want from the waiver wire.

They hold the No. 4 spot in the order and there’s no limit to how many claims they make as long as they can make the corresponding moves to satisfy the 53-player limit.

General manager Chris Ballard is typically a pretty active member of the waiver wire the day following roster cuts.

Here are a few names the Colts should consider adding either through free agency or through the waiver wire:

7 recently cut players the Bears should consider adding

Whether it’s another backup quarterback or help at punt returner, here are a few players the Bears should consider adding

The Chicago Bears 2023 initial roster was finally set on Tuesday afternoon as general manager Ryan Poles made the necessary cuts to get the team down to 53 players. It likely won’t stay that way for long, however.

Like the Bears, the rest of the NFL trimmed their rosters down, with hundreds of players hitting the waiver wire, able to be claimed and brought onto a new team. Chicago has top priority, though, meaning they will automatically get any player they put a claim on who passes through waivers.

Poles was busy this time last year, as the Bears claimed a total of seven players at various positions. With top priority, will they match or exceed that number? Given some of the cuts and releases that have been made that include fairly high-profile players, they could be busy. Teams have until 11 a.m. CT on Wednesday to submit claims.

Here are a few names the Bears should consider who have either hit the waiver wire or become free agents within the last couple of days.

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.

Giants injury update: D.J. Davidson activated from PUP

The New York Giants have activated DT D.J. Davidson from PUP and offered updates on several other injured players, including Collin Johnson.

Prior to practice on Monday, New York Giants defensive lineman D.J. Davidson passed his physical and was activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

Davidson joins a suddenly deep group of interior defensive linemen, including rookie Jordon Riley, who played well in his NFL preseason debut.

Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (knee) and cornerback Aaron Robinson (knee) remain on PUP with no timetable for return, although general manager Joe Schoen previously implied that Robinson could be activated this week.

The news on wide receiver Collin Johnson, who suffered a knee injury against the Detroit Lions, was also somewhat positive. His issue does not appear to be long-term.

“I don’t think it’s long-term, but I’m not a doctor, either,” head coach Brian Daboll told reporters.

Johnson will not practice on Monday but right tackle Evan Neal (concussion) will take a step forward. He will participate in the non-contact portion of practice as he works his way back. However, Neal remains in concussion protocol.

Meanwhile, offensive linemen Devery Hamilton (leg) and Tyre Phillips (unknown), running back Gary Brightwell (ankle), linebacker Cam Crown (unknown), defensive lineman Ryder Anderson (triceps), and defensive back Nick McCloud (stomach) will not practice.

Finally, cornerback Cor’Dale Flott (abdominal) will practice after leaving Friday night’s preseason game against the Lions early. Nose tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (groin) will also practice.

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