Report: Halapio not expected to join practice squad

We typically spend the day after final cut downs watching and waiting to see which players waived by the New York Giants on cut-down day will pass through the waiver wire and be added to the practice squad.

Reports have already surfaced that former starting center Jon Halapio will not be one of the players on the Giants’ practice squad.

Dan Duggan of The Athletic is reporting that Halapio has turned down the offer to sign to the Giants’ practice squad and is looking for a fresh start elsewhere.

Halapio was a restricted free agent at the end of the 2019 season when he ruptured his Achilles in the Giants’ week 17 loss. The Giants opted to let him test free agency rather than sign him to a tender sheet, and he was re-signed by the team just days before cut-down. It was widely expected that he had a spot as a primary interior offensive line backup waiting for him behind Nick Gates. After all, Halapio had been the Giants’ starting center since converting to the position from guard in the 2018 offseason.

Surprisingly, the Giants opted to go with Spencer Pulley as their back-up center and Halapio was one of the Giants surprise cuts as they trimmed their roster from 80 to 53 players. Perhaps they hoped to stash Halapio on the practice squad in case of emergency.

The move would make sense if they wanted to give him time to learn the new offense and blocking scheme, as well as give his surgically repaired Achilles tendon more time to heal. Halapio, however, seems to be looking for a chance to compete for a spot on an active roster and potentially a starting job.

Stay with Big Blue View throughout the day as we bring you news and updates as the Giants’ roster and practice squad continue to take shape.