Giants roster preview: Is there a role for DT Montori Hughes?

Montori Hughes found a role with the New York Giants late last season as a run-stopping defensive tackle. Will the 6-foot-4, 350-pound Hughes, a 2013 fifth-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts, have a place on a revamped Giants defense that added premier nose tackle Damon Harrison in free agency?

Let's take a closer look at Hughes as we continue our player-by-player profiles of the 90-man roster the Giants will bring to training camp.

2015 Season in Review

After being waived by the Indianapolis Colts at the end of the preseason, Hughes was quickly signed to the Giants practice squad. He was added to the active roster midway through the season when Johnathan Hankins went on season-ending IR. Hughes was in seven games for the Giants, playing 118 defensive snaps and making six tackles. He was part of a rotation that included Cullen Jenkins, Markus Kuhn and Jay Bromley.

2016 Season Outlook

With Hankins back and Harrison signed to a big-money contract to play the nose, Hughes' role is uncertain. What doesn't help is that he has been hobbling around the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in sneakers with an apparent leg injury while his teammates have been on the field during OTAs.

Hughes and third-year man Jay Bromley are in the mix for backup roles. Louis Nix III, on the practice squad last season, is also part of the competition. Undrafted free agents Marvin Lewis and Greg Milhouse will also have an opportunity to push for backup roles.

Whether or not Hughes makes the roster could well depend on how healthy he is, and whether or not the Giants want to use a roster spot on a pure backup for Harrison.