We heard a few weeks ago that tight end Larry Donnell had been cleared by doctors to return to football after a neck injury ended his 215 season. The New York Giants team doctors, however, still had to clear him. That has now happened, so Donnell will be allowed to return to the field in 2015. Donnell has also signed his restricted free agent tender.
The question, though, is whether or not Donnell will still be the team's No. 1 tight end. Will Tye, then a rookie undrafted free agent from Stony Brook, caught 42 passes last season, including 32 in the final seven games. Tye, 24, and potentially a better blocker than the 27-year-old Donnell, could enter the season atop the Giants' tight end depth chart.
Either way, Donnell, a 6-foot-5, 270-pound pass-catching tight end who can help the Giants in the red zone, will be a welcome addition to the team's passing attack. He has 95 catches in three seasons, including a high of 63 in 2014.
There is also the possibility that newly-signed Will Johnson, who has experience at both fullback and tight end, could be used as a blocking tight end by the Giants.