The New York Giants are preparing for Jameis Winston making his first start of the 2026 NFL season by signing to two quarterbacks to the active roster before Week 3’s game against the Tennessee Titans.
A shakeup of the depth chart at football’s most important position began when the Giants elevated Jake Haener from the practice squad. The former New Orleans Saints’ starter is the new backup for Big Blue, but a more high-profile and interesting move followed.
Wide receiver Braxton Berrios was also signed to the active roster. The All-Pro return man is now in line as the emergency quarterback for the game at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, September 26, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
They also elevated WR Braxton Berrios and LB Malik Harrison from the practice squad. The third and final elevation for both players.
Berrios discussed what he’ll bring to the Giants‘ offense if he plays quarterback for the first time since high school. Meanwhile, Haener’s in place as more conventional cover, should something happen to Winston.
The latter’s drop-back passing style is already prompting changes for offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. He’s scrambling to adjust with dual-threat starting signal-caller Jaxson Dart set to undergo season-ending knee surgery.
All-Pro Reveals What Kind of Quarterback He’ll Be for Giants
Berrios’ hidden value as a quarterback in name only is perhaps why the Giants were quick to stash the wideout on the practice squad back in August. He had impressed at his natural position during training camp, but Berrios didn’t survive final roster cuts.
The Giants are glad to have him now because the 30-year-old gives them an unlikely way to survive any more gameday injuries at quarterback. As NorthJersey.com’s Art Stapleton put it, “In other words, in case of emergency, break glass by shifting Berrios into shotgun formation and go.”
Stapleton detailed how “Berrios starred as a dual-threat quarterback and wide receiver at Leesville Road High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he had his No. 8 jersey retired. He finished a four-year varsity career with 5,666 yards of total offense with 82 touchdowns, starting at QB as a sophomore when his older brother Austin was injured and again as a senior.”
It’s been a while, but Berrios remembers how he approached playing the alpha position on the field. Berrios admitted, “I was definitely more of an athlete playing quarterback than a quarterback. I could throw it a little bit, but playing the position for me was more about making plays. I didn’t exactly have the typical body of a quarterback (5-foot-9, 190 pounds), but I made plays.”
The Giants didn’t need Berrios to show off his out-of-the-box quarterbacking style after Winston replaced Dart against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2. Winston’s being counted on against the Titans, but the Giants covered every base by elevating both Berrios and a more traditional passer.
Jake Haener Offers Classic Cover for Jameis Winston
Haener has the head coach John Harbaugh’s confidence as Winston’s backup. That’s understandable when Haener once threw for 4,000 yards as a college star at Fresno State.
The 27-year-old’s also started a game in the pros. Haener was at the controls when the 2024 Saints were beaten 20-19 by the Giants’ NFC East rivals the Washington Commanders.
He completed only four of 10 passes, took three sacks and threw an interception before being benched for Spencer Rattler. Numbers like those are why the Giants will hope Winston stays upright against the Titans.
Winston’s erratic, but he has the arm strength to burn any defense deep. Maximizing that talent is Nagy’s task, but the OC’s mindful of one fatal flaw.
Nagy told Stapleton, We know who he is. We talked all training camp about protecting the football. There’s a lot of feast or famine with him. We’ve joked over time about the 30 touchdowns and 30 picks, but now, here it is. Ball security is paramount with the type of team that we have
Winston can avoid turnovers if he gets better protection in the pocket. His offensive linemen already know keeping him clean will be different than safeguarding Dart.
Left guard Jon Runyan Jr. revealed to Raanan how the Giants “did have a lot more Jaxson-driven-type quarterback runs. It wasn’t necessarily something that we were going to major in like we kind of did last year most of the time. So, unfortunately, a lot of that is out. I mean, could be here and there.”
Runyan doesn’t expect Winston to run, and that will suit the Giants. They can always deploy Berrios as a rushing, gadget QB.
Giants Make All-Pro Move at QB Before Jameis Winston’s 1st Start