Giants activate Kadarius Toney from reserve/COVID-19 list, add LB Blake Martinez

The New York Giants activated wide receiver Kadarius Toney off of the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday afternoon.

That’s the good news. The bad news, however, is that at the same time they also announced they are placing Blake Martinez and another player on the list.

Wide receiver Kadarius Toney, the Giants’ first-round draft choice, has been removed from the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Two players were placed on the list: linebacker Blake Martinez, the team’s leading tackler last season, and safety Joshua Kalu.

While it isn’t good that either player tested positive for COVID-19, Martinez has to be the bigger concern from an on-field perspective.

Much of the Giants’ defensive scheme is predicated around funneling running plays to the inside linebacker, and Martinez’s reliability and football IQ are vital parts of the Giants’ defense.

Hopefully both players will be asymptomatic and be able to return to health — and the field — quickly.

NOTE; Linebacker Reggie Ragland has been placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.