Giants Rectify Release, Sign Johnson to Practice Squad

The New York Giants found their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday, cutting the offseason roster down from 90 players in what is always one of the saddest weeks on the calendar.

Perhaps their most questionable cut was tight end/fullback Jakob Johnson .

A late-stage signing in free agency, Johnson was a last-minute addition to a tight end room that lacked true fullback versatility. That was initially thought to be enough to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.

Instead, he was among the cuts, subjecting him, briefly, to the open market.

New York rectified that decision on Wednesday, signing him to the practice squad, per Adam Schefter . This gives the Giants the ability to elevate him for games in which more two-back runs are in the game plan. To Johnson’s credit, he excels here and can be a legitimate addition to the ground game when New York goes under center.

But head coach Brian Daboll isn’t one to lean on the fullback position, and other tight ends like Daniel Bellinger and Chris Manhertz can moonlight in the backfield when necessary.

Related: What Does Johnson Signing Mean for Giants?

Keeping Johnson on the practice squad also allowed the Giants to keep a 10th offensive line on the roster, meaning they didn’t have to make a decision between undrafted free agent guard Jake Kubas and backup center Austin Schlottmann.

Expect more practice squad additions to be made as the waiver wire churns and teams race to find the best remaining options in free agency.