The New York Giants went on a wild signing spree on Monday, adding four players, three of them at the wide receiver position.
With primary kick returner Gunner Olszewski knocked out of action with a torn Achilles, the Giants briskly gobbled up a similar player in free agent Braxton Berrios. That was a one-for-one exchange.
With Malik Nabers still rehabbing from the surgeries to repair ACL and meniscus tears, and Darius Slayton recovering from sports hernia surgery, the Giants knew more was needed. Monday, they held a tryout that yielded not only Berrios, but two others.
The big name was, of course, Odell Beckham Jr., who has been clamoring for a reunion with his original club for months now. Former Pittsburgh Steeler and Kansas City Chief Juju Smith-Schuster was the third veteran inked on Monday.
The extent of Beckham’s role won’t be known until the 33-year-old gets out on the field and meshes with quarterback Jaxson Dart and the Giants’ young receiving corps. Same with Smith-Schuster. The 29-year-old still has some gas left in the tank, but just how much is what the Giants want to find out.
The Nabers injury is a perplexing one. The Giants knew his recovery timeline would bump up against the beginning of training camp, which begins July 27 in West Virginia.
Now, after seeing him move and learning that he needed a second procedure to loosen up and remove scar tissue, they’re not sure if he’ll even make it back for the start of the regular season. Hence, the need to bring in some graybeards into the wide receiver room. Throw it all against the wall and see what sticks.
The Giants will take Nabers’ temperature in late July and decide whether to place him on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list or not. The recent moves give them a bit more latitude and peace of mind. Of course, the optimal scenario would be to have Nabers back and 100 percent healthy for the Giants’ opener in Week 1 against Dallas on Sunday Night Football.
“The goal is (for Nabers) to start the season and get out there sometime in training camp,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “That would be the goal. We’ll see what happens. If he’s out there, great. If he’s not out there, great. We’ll be ready to go either way.”
The Giants at least now have enough receivers and returners to get them through the remainder of their OTA sessions this week and mandatory minicamp next week.
Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen have done an excellent job of stacking and stocking the roster this offseason, making sure the Giants have enough talent, depth, and competition at every position.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: What do New York Giants’ WR signings suggest about Malik Nabers’ recovery?
Reporting by John Fennelly, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
