90-Man Roster Preview: Will Roger Lewis Stick Around?

When Roger Lewis Jr. talked to Big Blue View’s Chris Pflum shortly after the end of the 2016 season he called it “a blessing” to catch passes from Eli Manning, especially having grown up rooting for Manning and the New York Giants.

Question is, will Lewis get to do that again in 2017? Let’s take a closer look at the second-year wide receiver as we continue our player-by-player profiles of the Giants’ 90-man roster.

2016 Season In Review

Lewis made the Giants’ roster as an undrafted free agent out of Bowling Green. He caught seven passes in 13 games, two for touchdowns, as a reserve wide receiver and emerged as a solid gunner on punt coverage teams.

2017 Season Outlook

Well, that’s a good question. I have Lewis missing out in my most recent 53-man roster projection, with Tavarres King and Darius Powe getting the final two wide receiver roster spots. As I said in that post, that is partially because of his recent OVI arrest, and partially because my eyes told me this spring that it looks like the Giants might have better options.

Asked about Lewis’s arrest, coach Ben McAdoo would only say “We are going to let the legal process play itself out.”

Even if there is no conviction, Lewis could face discipline from the NFL for a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. If a suspension is involved, that might increase the odds that the Giants would cut ties with Lewis. Even if he will be available for 16 games, there is no guarantee the Giants won’t decide some combination of King, Powe, Travis Rudolph or any of their other young receivers might be more deserving.

None of that is to say there is no way Lewis gets a second season on the 53-man roster. He is, however, going to have to earn it.