The New York Giants finalized five roster moves on the evening of October 24.
Giants.com managing editor Dan Salomone relayed the transactions on X (formerly Twitter), and the headliner was an intriguing waiver claim.
GIANTS ROSTER MOVES 10/24
Free Agent Signing from Carolina Practice Squad:
▪️ RB Jashaun Corbin
Practice Squad Veteran Signing:
▪️ OLB Justin Hollins
Reserve/Injured:
▪️ RB Eric Gray
▪️ T Matt Peart
Claimed off Waivers from Cleveland:
▪️ RB Deon Jackson
Big Blue poached running back Deon Jackson after the Cleveland Browns placed him onto waivers this week. You’re more likely to remember Jackson from the Indianapolis Colts organization, however.
The Duke UDFA first entered the league in 2021, fighting his way off of the Colts practice squad to suit up for nine games as a rookie. He built on that debut in 2022, making a name for himself with 445 scrimmage yards over 16 appearances — and nearly half of those yards came as a pass-catcher.
Jackson caught 30 out of 34 targets for Indianapolis during his second season. That amounted to 209 receiving yards, 10 first downs and a touchdown.
He has been much less successful as a runner with just 3.0 yards per carry throughout his career, and Jackson’s biggest issue has been ball security. Two 2023 fumbles and a drop contributed to his release from the Colts after two appearances in year three, and the 24-year-old had a drop and a fumble in 2022 as well.
Giants Draft Picks Eric Gray & Matt Peart Hit the Injured Reserve
Unfortunately, two recent draft prospects were placed on the injured reserve as part of the slew of Giants roster moves on October 24.
Those players were offensive tackle Matt Peart and rookie running back Eric Gray. Both have struggled during their respective NYG tenures, although the latter’s NFL journey has been much shorter than the former’s.
Gray has only carried the ball 13 times at the professional level, and it hasn’t been pretty. Those rushing attempts have only gone for 27 yards (2.1 per carry).
Running was the least of Gray’s problems during his first seven outings though. The rookie was a fumble machine as a returner, muffing multiple punts.
He already had three fumbles in limited action, and his return averages were poor to make matters worse.
Peart was a third-round selection in 2020. Since joining the organization, he’s only started six games despite the offensive line trouble in New York, appearing in another 36 including the playoffs.
Over that span, Peart has received decent run blocking grades, but his pass protection has not been consistent. Pro Football Focus credits him with a 95.1 pass blocking efficiency.
That efficiency rating would rank tied for 57th in the NFL (minimum 20% of snaps).
Gray has been dealing with a calf injury while Peart has a shoulder issue.
Giants Reunite With Jashaun Corbin, Sign Justin Hollins
We already heard the report that former Giants running back Jashaun Corbin would be returning on a practice squad deal — courtesy of New York Daily News reporter Pat Leonard on October 23 — but Big Blue also signed veteran outside linebacker Justin Hollins.
Corbin was poached from the Carolina Panthers, while Hollins last played with the Green Bay Packers.
The former first came to the Giants in 2022. He has never logged a regular season NFL snap.
Hollins has a much more established track record in the league. He was a fifth-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2019, but he’s bounced around the NFL ever since including a Super Bowl ring with the Los Angeles Rams two Februarys ago.
After 65 career appearances including the playoffs, Hollins has registered 9.5 sacks and nine tackles for a loss. He has also forced three fumbles, recovered one, been credited with three pass defenses and accumulated 123 total tackles.
These signings give the G-Men some more depth at a couple areas of need.
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Giants Claim Pass-Catching RB, Place 2 Recent Draft Picks on IR: Report