Will Beatty returning to New York Giants — reports

In what has to be considered a major surprise, multiple reports this afternoon indicate that offensive tackle Will Beatty is returning to the New York Giants.

The Giants showed no interest in retaining Beatty, a Giant from 2009-2015, during the offseason. Beatty, the team’s starting left tackle from 2011-2014, missed all of last season. He tore a pectoral muscle in OTAs and then suffered a shoulder injury while rehabbing.

Beatty was the Giants’ second-round pick in 2009. There was thought to be little chance that the Giants and Beatty would reunite as, from all indications, the relationship between the two sides did not end on good terms.

The Giants’ need for help on the offensive line, however, and the fact that the 31-year-old Beatty was still out of work less than two weeks before the beginning of the regular season, has led to the two sides coming back together. Beatty has been the best offensive lineman on the market for a while, but his return to the Giants is still a surprise to most observers.

Beatty had previously worked out for the Carolina Panthers and had received an offer from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Paul Schwartz reported that Beatty worked out for the Giants Tuesday morning.

The Giants have not yet officially announced the signing, thus no indication of whether they look at Beatty as a starter at left or right tackle, or as a veteran backup. Reports indicate that Beatty will receive $1.1 million guaranteed and an additional $750K in incentives. Reports also indicate that the Giants expect Beatty, who hasn’t played right tackle since his rookie year, to compete with Marshall Newhouse for that spot.

While it may not happen in Week 1, it seems inevitable that Beatty takes over at right tackle at some point and that Newhouse returns to the swing tackle role for which he was originally signed.

Your thoughts, Giants fans?