Updated New York Giants’ 53-man roster projection

We are halfway through the preseason and we’ve been able to gather quite a bit of information about the New York Giants to this point. With that in mind, let’s update our weekly 53-man roster projection, and see where I believe things stand at this point.

Offense (25)

Quarterback (2)

Eli Manning

Ryan Nassib

No change.

Running back (4)

Rashad Jennings

Andre Williams

Shane Vereen

Paul Perkins

No change: Coach Ben McAdoo said Sunday that Orleans Darkwa, who has only two carries and has played just nine offensive snaps in two games, “has value for us” and that “his workload will have a chance to pick up here shortly.” Still, it looks like the Giants have settled on Williams as the primary backup for Jennings. With rookie Paul Perkins also needing a roster spot, that leaves Darkwa as the odd man out.

Tight end (4)

Will Tye

Larry Donnell

Will Johnson

Matt LaCosse

No change: This assumes all of the tight ends are healthy to start the season. Right now, Johnson (burner) and LaCosse (knee) are not. I want to find a spot for rookie sixth-round pick Jerell Adams, but right now I’m not willing to drop LaCosse to do it.

Wide receiver (6)

Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard

Geremy Davis

Victor Cruz

Dwayne Harris

Roger Lewis

Change: Cruz in, Myles White out. I promise I’m not intentionally playing with your emotions here. Last week, I left Cruz off the roster. This week, he’s back on. Assuming he makes it through the week and the preseason game against the New York Jets healthy he makes the team. If he can’t do those things, then he can’t be part of this team. For now, though, I will grant him a spot.

Offensive line (9)

Starters — LT Ereck Flowers. LG Justin Pugh, C Weston Richburg, RG John Jerry, RT Marshall Newhouse

Reserves — Bobby Hart, Byron Stingily, Emmett Cleary, one player to be determined

Change: Ryan Seymour, Dillon Farrell out. Emmett Cleary in. I have also gone back to leaving one spot open for a veteran to be added once teams begin making roster cuts next week. I think the Giants have to add someone, whether it’s a starting right tackle or a veteran reserve.

Defense (25)

Defensive tackle (4)

Damon Harrison, Johnathan Hankins

Jay Bromley, Davon Coleman

Change: Coleman in, Montori Hughes out. The fourth spot is pretty much a weekly shot in the dark. Coleman, formerly with the Dallas Cowboys, got a long, early look Saturday vs. the Buffalo Bills, so I’ll put him here for now. Undrafted Greg Milhouse could still end up with a spot.

Defensive end (5)

Jason Pierre-Paul, Olivier Vernon

Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Kerry Wynn, Romeo Okwara

Change: For the first time, I’m adding Okwara as a fifth defensive end. The undrafted free agent from Notre Dame is earning it.

Linebacker (7)

Jonathan Casillas, Devon Kennard, Kelvin Sheppard/Jasper Brinkley

Keenan Robinson

B.J. Goodson

Mark Herzlich

No change: At this point, I think J.T. Thomas opens the season on PUP. I have both Sheppard and Brinkley listed as starters because right now we don’t know which guy it will be.

Cornerback (5)

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Janoris Jenkins

Eli Apple

Leon Hall

Trevin Wade

Change: Donte Deayon out. You know I have a soft spot for Deayon and I’d love to see him make the team. To add Okwara, though, something has to give. The Giants should be able to get Deayon thru waivers and onto the practice squad.

Safety (4)

Landon Collins, Darian Thompson

Nat Berhe

Mykkele Thompson

No change: This, of course, assumes Darian Thompson will be healthy to begin the season. Berhe and Mykkele Thompson have consistently been the second pair.

Special teams (3)

Placekicker — Randy Bullock

Punter — Brad Wing

Long snapper — Zak DeOssie