The injury-riddled New York Giants are adding more depth and familiar faces to their roster ahead of their Week 11 game against the Green Bay Packers.
The Giants re-signed undrafted free agent linebacker Trace Ford to their practice squad while dealing with a rash of injuries to their defense, especially their linebackers room.
Ford was picked up by the Giants after the draft but was waived as part of their final cuts then was released from their practice squad Aug. 29. Ford was added to the practice squad Thursday after wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey was plucked off New York’s reserve squad by the Denver Broncos and added to their active roster.
The Giants (2-8) have lost four straight and are in last place in both the NFC East and NFC. The Packers (5-3-1) have lost two in a row and are 3-3-1 in their past seven yet still occupy the final NFC playoff spot with eight games left.
The Giants Clearly Like Trace Ford
Ford, who will be 25 in January, spent his college career split between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
But even though he is just two weeks younger than 2022 first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux, Ford has not played an NFL game, since he spent all five of his years of eligibility and also missed the 2021 season — he sustained a torn ACL in consecutive seasons, 2020 and 2021.
Even at his older age, Ford could end up as a diamond in the rough if he can remain healthy. He had 10 sacks, five forced fumbles, 19 passes defended and 19.5 tackles for loss in his college career, plus a pair of interceptions.
Ford was not invited to the NFL combine in 2025 but showed well for scouts at his pro day at Oklahoma ahead of the NFL draft. We’ll see if he ends up playing for the Giants at some point this season.
The Giants’ Injuries Are Astounding
The Giants clearly are high on Ford since they brought in the 6-2, 252-pound outside linebacker during camp and midseason as well.
But the Giants also need healthy bodies, since eight players did not practice Thursday and eight more were limited in practice as well. Five of the 16 Giants on the injury report were linebackers, including Thibodeaux and middle LB Bobby Okereke (shoulder) each who did not practice at all.
The Giants also have three linebackers on injured reserve, meaning they are well down the depth chart at one of the NFL’s most important defensive positions — amid a disappointing season for their D-line, outside of potential All-Pro Brian Burns.
But the defense isn’t the only side of the ball adversely affected by injuries. The Giants added wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins to their active roster Thursday from the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad after Humphrey was plucked from New York’s practice squad.
But New York also has four wideouts on IR, and Darius Slayton — the team’s second-leading receiver behind Wan’Dale Robinson — also did not practice due to a hamstring injury.
Rookie No. 1 quarterback Jaxson Dart (concussion) also did not practice Thursday, and New York is planning on starting veteran journeyman Jameis Winston if Dart is unable to go Sunday.
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