Orleans Darkwa won’t be back with Giants, per report

The re-construction (or, de-construction at the present time) of the New York Giants’ running game appears to be continuing. ESPN is reporting that the Giants will not tender a contract offer to restrict free agent running back Orleans Darkwa, making him a free agent when the signing period begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.

The Giants let veteran running back Rashad Jennings go earlier this offseason. Bobby Rainey is also a free agent and is not likely to return.

The only backs remaining who carried the ball for the Giants last season are Paul Perkins and Shane Vereen.

Darkwa was signed off the Miami Dolphins practice squad by the Giants in 2014. In 33 games with New York, he carried the ball 71 times for 285 yards, 4.0 yards per carry. Darkwa played 10 games in 2016 before going on IR with a leg injury.

There has been a great deal of speculation about the Giants signing a veteran running back or the possibility of using an early- to middle-round draft pick on a back to complement Perkins.