Giants roster moves: New punt returner signed after Gunner Olszewski injury

Giants sign former Carolina Panther returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette

The New York Giants made a series of roster moves on Monday, most notably signing wide receiver/kick returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette to replace the injured Gunner Olszewski.

The Giants placed linebacker/special teamer Carter Coughlin (pectoral) on practice squad/injured. Coughlin was replaced on the practice squad by linebacker/special teamer Curtis Bolton, who was dropped from the 53-man roster on Friday.

When Olszewski, who had been dealing with a groin injury since Week 2 of the preseason, was unable to play on Sunday, the Giants were forced to use Darius Slayton to return punts. That did not work out well as Slayton muffed a punt. Olszewski is expected to be sidelined for weeks, per coach Brian Daboll.

That necessitated signing another returner.

The Giants, per Daboll, held a workout on Monday. They signed Smith-Marsette after that.

Smith-Marsette, 25, was a fifth-round by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has already played for the Vikings, Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, and Carolina Panthers.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Smith-Marsette has 14 receptions in 33 career regular season games. More significant, though, is his return experience.

Playing for the Panthers in 2023, Smith-Marsette returned punts for the first time in his NFL career. He had 37 returns for an average of 8.7 yards per return, including a 79-yard touchdown return.

Smith-Marsette also has limited kickoff return experience, having returned six kickoffs in his career for an average of 20.0 yards per return.

A native of Newark, N.J., Smith-Marsette helped Weequahic High School claim the 2016 state championship with a 12-0 record. He went on to play at Iowa, where his 28.7-yard career average on kickoff returns ranked second all-time in the Big Ten.

The Giants have not placed Olszewski on injured reserve as of this writing. Even with the Smith-Marsette signing, there is one opening on the 53-man roster. So, there are more moves likely to come this week.