The New York Giants made a move to activate the practice window of long-lost running back and former 2023 fifth-round pick Eric Gray, ahead of the Week 12 matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Giants head coach Mike Kafka announced the practice return of Gray on Wednesday, November 19, and the NYG social media team also echoed the news on X.
“Mike Kafka said RB Eric Gray’s window is being opened today,” they posted, adding that “QB Jaxson Dart will be a non-contact participant at practice today.”
The Giants will now have 21 days to officially transfer Gray back onto the 53-man roster. But if the running back suffers a setback and is not able to rejoin the active roster within this 21-day window, he will then be placed on season-ending IR.
Typically, this clerical move is one of the final steps before a player returns from injury, although every case is different. Giants outside linebacker and special teamer Victor Dimukeje took the field for a game just days after his 21-day window was activated earlier this season, while other players need the full length of time to get themselves ramped up and ready to go.
Sometimes you’ll even see a player who is unable to make it back in time.
Upon hearing the news, The Athletic’s NYG beat reporter Dan Duggan reminded fans that “Gray has been on the PUP list all season after tearing his meniscus in the spring.” The third-year pro is expected to “add some depth to a backfield that has been rolling with just two RBs since Cam Skattebo’s injury.”
Giants Have Replaced Eric Gray Multiple Times, But He Continues to Remain Within the Organization Anyway
Gray does add much-needed depth behind Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary, as Duggan noted, but he’s hardly a superstar reinforcement.
Since being drafted in 2023, the Giants have made the conscious decision to draft two more running backs in each of the following offseasons. Needless to say, if general manager Joe Schoen felt like Gray was a draft hit, he probably wouldn’t have devoted more precious resources to selecting both Tracy and Skattebo.
And let’s not forget that Big Blue also dedicated $9.5 million guaranteed to Singletary in 2024 free agency, the year after Gray was drafted.
With Tracy and Singletary immediately leapfrogging Gray on the depth chart a season ago, there was a legitimate chance that the 2023 prospect would be cut this summer. But then he suffered an injury, and there was no longer any reason to part ways with Gray, who remained on the PUP list at the 53-man deadline.
The Skattebo injury reshuffles the deck in Gray’s favor once again here in Week 12, as the Giants could use an extra running back who has experience on special teams. Assuming he’s able to work his way back in the next 21 days, it appears the recent draft bust’s NYG career will continue into 2026.
Giants’ Injury List Is Still Very Long Entering Week 12 Matchup Against Lions
As for the other injury updates on Wednesday, the Giants still have a very long list of nagging issues heading into Week 12.
Team reporter Dan Salomone relayed the following practice designations for November 19.
Did Not Participate in Practice:
- CB Paulson Adebo (Knee).
- TE Thomas Fidone II (Foot).
- LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (Illness).
- CB Cor’Dale Flott (Not Injury Related/Personal).
- CB Rico Payton (Illness).
- WR Darius Slayton (Hamstring).
- OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (Shoulder).
Limited Participants:
- CB Deonte Banks (Hip).
- QB Jaxson Dart (Concussion/Non-Contact Participant).
- DL Chauncey Golston (Neck).
- S Tyler Nubin (Neck).
- DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches Sr. (Toe/Elbow).
Similar to recent seasons under former head coach Brian Daboll, health has been a factor in 2025. The Giants never seem to be at full strength, and their 2-9 record reflects that.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Long-Lost Giants Draft Pick Takes Step in Returning From Injury appeared first on Heavy Sports.