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Giants Place RB Gary Brightwell on IR

Brightwell is a core special teams player for the Giants.

Patricia Traina

Giants Place RB Gary Brightwell on IR
Giants Place RB Gary Brightwell on IR /
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The New York Giants are planning to move running back Gary Brightwell to the injured reserve list by the 4 p.m. weekly roster deadline today, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported.

Brightwell had been dealing with an ankle injury that he played through. However, in last week's win over Washington, he suffered a hamstring strain and could not practice this week. The Giants, meanwhile, went and added Jashaun Corbin from the Panthers practice squad and were awarded Deon Jackson off waivers from the Browns to reinforce their depth at the position.

Brightwell was selected by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2021 draft out of the University of Arizona. He has 41 career carries for 164 yards and a touchdown and 11 receptions for 92 yards.

Brightwell's biggest contribution to the Giants has been as a core special teams player. He's previously returned kickoffs for the Giants, having recorded 555 yards on 26 returns. 

With Brightwell moving to injured reserve, it will be interesting to see if the Giants fill his roster spot or leave it open until early next week, pending how much quarterback Daniel Jones progresses in his rehab from a neck injury.

Jones, who has been declared out of Sunday's game against the Jets, has yet to be cleared for contact since suffering the injury in Week 5. The Giants are expected to elevate Tommy DeVito from the practice squad this weekend, though now with an open roster spot, they could also look to sign him to the 53-man roster using Brightwell's spot. 

With rookie Eric Gray, the team's punt returner, already on IR, the Giants could add  Gunner Olszewski, who signed this week, and possibly outside linebacker Oshane Ximines from the practice squad as standard elevations. 

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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