After rash of safety injuries, Giants sign Brandon Meriweather

The New York Giants have signed veteran safety Brandon Meriweather after two rookie safeties were injured in the team’s first preseason game.

The New York Giants have signed veteran safety Brandon Meriweather after two rookie safeties were injured in their first preseason game, the team announced Sunday. 

Landon Collins, who the Giants traded up to select with the first pick in the second round of this year’s draft, sprained his MCL in Friday’s preseason opener and will be out for at least a week. Mykkele Thompson, a rookie fifth-round pick, tore his Achilles tendon in the game and was placed on season-ending injured reserve. 

Second-year safety Nat Berhe tore a calf muscle earlier this month, though head coach Tom Coughlin said Saturday he hoped Berhe would return to practice this week. 

Before signing Meriweather, Cooper Taylor, Jeromy Miles and converted cornerback Bennett Jackson were the Giants’ only healthy safeties. Taylor missed all of last season with a foot injury. 

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Meriweather, 31, played the last three seasons with the Washington Redskins. Lingering knee injuries limited him to just one game in 2012 and he missed nine games in 2013 and 2014 due to a combination of injuries and suspensions. He has been disciplined on multiple occasions for illegal hits. 

Meriweather recorded 36 solo tackles and three sacks last season. He forced three fumbles and recovered one. 

- Dan Gartland