Giants roster moves: WR Cody Core, OT Eric Smith claimed on waivers; Alonzo Russell cut

The New York Giants were awarded two players — wide receiver Cody Core and offensive tackle Eric Smith — on waiver claims Sunday.

Core, 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, was waived on Saturday by the Cincinnati Bengals. In three seasons, Core has caught 30 passes. He caught 13 last season. Core was a sixth-round pick by Cincinnati in 2016, and is said to be an excellent special teams player. Core played 41.81 percent of Cincinnati’s special teams snaps in 2018.

The Giants are cutting Alonzo Russell to make room for Core. Russell, who spent last season on the Giants’ practice squad and was active for the season finale, made the initial 53-man roster thanks largely to several outstanding hustle plays in preseason games. Core’s special teams experience, though, knocked him off the roster.

Smith was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Miami Dolphins in 2017. He spent most of last season on the New England Patriots practice squad and joined the Jets late in the season. The 6-foot-4, 308-pound 23-year-old has never appeared in an NFL game. The Giants will drop offensive tackle Brian Mihalik to make room for Smith.

The Giants officially announced all of the moves shortly before 4 p.m.