Alabama in the NFL: Linebacker Ryan Anderson Re-Signed by New York Giants

The former Alabama linebacker is rejoining Giants action after being on the non-football injury list to begin training camp.

As of Monday afternoon, outside linebacker Ryan Anderson had been released from the New York Giants. Then, the former Alabama player rejoined the Giants less than one day later as his reported release was contract-related, per The Athletic. 

Entering the 2021 NFL Training Camp, he was expected to be a part of the competition in New York's rotation of edge rushers, but the defender who signed with the Giants this offseason as a free agent had been on the Non-Football Injury list the first two weeks of training camp with a back injury. 

He's now cleared to return to the team and return to practice.

Previously, Anderson spent the first four years of his professional career with the Washington Football Team.

He was limited to nine games last season for the NFC East division champions, and off the edge totaled nine tackles and one tackle for loss. The 2019 season was Anderson's most productive as a pro, though, as he finished with 16 appearances, the most of his career, 44 total tackles and four tackles for loss.

After a four-year career at Alabama, the Daphne, Alabama native was drafted by Washington with the 49th overall selection of the 2017 NFL Draft.

While playing for the Crimson Tide, the linebacker earned first team All-SEC honors in 2016 as a senior. That season, Anderson was a semifinalist of the Butkus Award given to the nation's top linebacker as recognition of his 61 total tackles and team-high 19 tackles for loss. 

He also registered nine sacks for the defense as part of the Alabama team that entered the College Football Playoff undefeated before falling to Clemson in the national championship.