Giants roster moves: Tae Crowder to IR, Jabaal Sheard signed

The New York Giants have placed rookie linebacker Tae Crowder, one of the heroes of their Week 6 victory over the Washington Football Team on IR with a hamstring injury, and signed veteran defensive end Jabaal Sheard off the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad to take his place. Crowder must miss at least the next three games.

Crowder was the final player selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, the player commonly given the moniker ‘Mr Irrelevant.’

He had worked his into a starting role at inside linebacker for the Giants, starting the last two games. Sunday against Washington, Crowder played 62 snaps, 85 percent of the Giants’ defensive plays. He made 10 tackles and had what proved to be the game-winning touchdown, scooping up a fumble by Washington quarterback Kyle Allen and taking it 46 yards.

Sheard is a 31-year-old in his 10th NFL season. He has played for the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts and one game this season for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sheard terminated his practice squad contract in Jacksonville to join the Giants. Sheard has 51.5 sacks in his NFL career.

Sheard will not be eligible to play Thursday night against the Eagles. Though he’s received daily COVID-19 testing with Jacksonville, the protocols reset when a player joins a new team. The Giants’ next game after Philadelphia will be at home on Monday night, Nov. 2, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.