Two days after cutting Gunner Olszewski to make room for waiver claims Rico Payton and Beau Brade, the New York Giants have re-signed Olszewski to their 53-man roster.
To make room for Olszewski, the Giants are placing Payton on injured reserve.
Placing Payton on IR is a move the Giants knew they would have to make when they claimed him on waivers from the New Orleans Saints. Payton is a second-year cornerback/special teams player GM Joe Schoen said on Wednesday the team was hoping to acquire a year ago. They want to develop him, think he can help them on special teams, and seem likely to bring him to the 53-man roster whenever he is healthy.
Olszewski won a competition with Ihmir Smith-Marsette to be a backup wide receiver as well as the Giants’ primary punt and kickoff returner.
Olszewski played 10 games for the team in 2023 and spent last season on injured reserve. He returned to the Giants early in training camp after Bryce Ford-Wheaton suffered a torn Achilles during practice and was placed on injured reserve. The highlight of his 2023 season was a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Giants signed linebacker Zaire Barnes and offensive lineman McClendon Curtis to their practice squad, and terminated the contract of edge defender Trace Ford.
Cutting Ford, an undrafted free agent who was impressive during the summer, could be considered a surprise.
Barnes, 6-foot-1 and 227 pounds, was waived by the New York Jets on Wednesday. The Jets selected him out of Western Michigan in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Barnes appeared in four games as a rookie but missed all of 2024 with an ankle injury.
Curtis, 6-6 and 330 pounds, was released by the Arizona Cardinals on Monday. Undrafted out of Chattanooga in 2023, Curtis began his career with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he played under current Giants offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo. Curtis also spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, playing in five games for Seattle over the past two seasons. All of his snaps were played on special teams.
1 CommentSee More:
