Buck Allen Brings a Veteran Presence to Giants Offensive Backfield

With the addition of veteran running back Javorius “Buck” Allen, signed last week, the New York Giants now have a more experienced presence in their backfield.

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Running back Javorious Allen didn't realize how much he would miss the game of football until it was briefly taken away from him.

"It’s a blessing," he said Monday in his first comments after signing with the Giants last week. "We've got great talented guys, but you don't really miss something until it’s gone, and I missed it. So it's a blessing to be on this team.

After the signing of Allen, both Jon Hilliman and Austin Walter were waived, thus giving the Giants a more experienced backfield that includes starter Saquon Barkley and Wayne Gallman.  

While the Giants have some early-week optimism that they'll get Barkley (37 rushes for 237 yards) and Gallman (90 yards on 25 carries) back from their respective injuries, Allen said he's ready in case he's needed. 

“I’ll do whatever they need me to do,” he said Monday. “I’m an all-around back.”

Allen is a five-year veteran who spent his first four years with the Ravens before moving over to the Sants this year. 

Allen, who has 340 career rushes for 1,249 yards in 54 career games, was released by the Saints early during training camp after reaching an injury settlement for an undisclosed injury. 

Fully healthy and raring to go, Allen says he brings fresh legs, experience, and an all-around versatile skillset to the Giants backfield.

“I was healthy like a week after I got released,” Allen said. “Worked out in Georgia until the Giants called me.”

In addition to what he brings to the running game, Allen also has been productive as a receiver out of the backfield.

Last year with the Ravens, he hauled in 35 receptions for 196 yards and two touchdowns. As a rookie in 2015, he eclipsed the 45-catch mark, doing so again in 2017, and is sturdy in pass-protection and blitz pickups.

Allen, who has been busy trying to learn the language used in the Giants' playbook, otherwise believes that getting up to speed on what the Giants run won’t take him too long.

“Concept football is football,” he said. “You understand how the offense or defense works in the NFL.”

Whether it’s one play or a full workload, Allen promised he’d be ready.