Giants cuts tracker: Tracking Giants roster moves, trades, rumors, updates, and more

The NFL preseason is over and teams are now going about the serious business of trimming rosters from 90 players to the regular season limit of 53. New York Giants linebacker Alec Ogletree said Friday that it’s a “bittersweet” time because the regular season is starting, but players who will stay are bidding goodbye to players who may be seeing their NFL dreams come to an end.

Giants coach Pat Shurmur said after Thursday’s preseason finale that the Giants have “enough information” to make good decisions about the roster.

“I feel like we’ve got enough information,” Shurmur said.” We played all the players through the preseason, so we’re not going to be guessing as to whether a guy can do it or not. We’re in a position now to pick that initial 53-man roster.”

Cutting players you have worked with for months is part of a head coach’s job, but not an easy one.

“The human element of it is tough,” Shurmur said. “I think we all get used to it, but if you’ve got a heart and you’ve got a soul, you’re talking about guys’ livelihood. It’s a tough situation that way, but it’s real.”

Shurmur said Friday that but that the Giants “have a decent idea” who will and won’t make the roster. We will find out who those guys are today.

GM Dave Gettleman said Thursday that the Giants “will keep the 53 best” players and would then “work the waiver wire” to try and upgrade spots on the roster where possible.

We will be tracking the cuts between now and the 4 p.m. ET deadline on Saturday to reach the roster limit, so keep checking back for updates.

Roster moves

The reported list of cuts with less than an hour to go:

— WR Marquis Bundy
— WR Alonzo Russell
— OL Malcolm Bunche
— RB Jhurell Pressley
— DT A.J. Francis
— WR Travis Rudolph
— DT Tyrell Chavis
— LB Calvin Munson
— OL Zac Kerin
— CB Grant Haley
— CB Chris Lewis-Harris
— S Andrew Adams
— WR Roger Lewis Jr.
— RB Jalen Simmons
— WR Kalif Raymond
— OT Chris Scott
— WR Amba Etta-Tawo
— K Marshall Koehn
— ILB Mark Herzlich
— DT Izaah Lunsford
— S Darian Thompson
— LB Warren Long
— TE Garrett Dickerson
— CB Leonard Johnson
— CB Mike Jones
— OL Nick Gates (placed on IR)
— OLB Avery Moss

Thought Darian Thompson might end up on IR due to his lingering hamstring injury. Didn’t think Giants would outright waive him. If Thompson, a 2016 third-round pick goes unclaimed, he reverts to the Giants injured reserve list. [Full story]

Garrett Dickerson, an undrafted free agent, seems like a favorite to land on the practice squad.

With Leonard Johnson, Chris Lewis-Harris and Grant Haley all released, the Giants are obviously going to be scouring the waiver wire for cornerback help.

A fifth-round pick last season by then-GM Jerry Reese, Avery Moss missed most of the spring with an injury and never caught up. I don’t believe he has practice squad eligibility, so he will be moving on.

There was some thought that veteran offensive lineman Chris Scott could sneak onto the roster. That, apparently, isn’t happening.

More to come on the release of veteran linebacker Mark Herzlich. [Full story]

It has been obvious for a while that Aldrick Rosas was going to win the placekicking job.

Amba Etta-Tawo had a good spring and a fast start to training camp. He disappeared in the preseason, though, with his only reception being Thursday’s 41-yard touchdown catch-and-run. He would seem like a logical practice squad candidate.

Jhurell Pressley had two good preseason games, but he was never really likely to make the team. He was roster fill to help the Giants through preseason.

Surprised by the cut of A.J. Francis. Said multiple times that he and Robert Thomas have similar skill sets, but thought both guys would make it. Guess that might be good news for someone like Romeo Okwara. [Full story]

Travis Rudolph made a splash in the 2017 preseason, but his lack of speed and size made it difficult for him. He was also injured for a lengthy stretch in preseason, limiting his opportunities.

Tyrell Chavis would be a logical practice squad addition.

In my 53-man roster projection I had Grant Haley going to the practice squad. Thought he might sneak onto the roster once news broke that Chris Lewis-Harris was being released. Looks like the Giants will be scouring the waiver wire for some cornerback help. I would think Haley will land on the practice squad if he clears waivers.

The Alex Tanney move is no surprise. He was never making the roster unless there was a major injury to Eli Manning, Davis Webb or Kyle Lauletta.

The release of Kalif Raymond likely means Hunter Sharp wins the punt return job.

Andrew Adams is a player the Giants just didn’t seem to believe was a fit in James Bettcher’s defense. I thought Chris Lewis-Harris played well enough on Thursday vs. the New England Patriots to earn a roster spot. Giants thought otherwise. [Full story]

We have been telling you since the spring that the Giants’ new coaching staff has had Roger Lewis Jr., who had 26 receptions last season, buried on the depth chart. Now, the Giants are moving on without him.