Giants add 6 players to complete practice squad

The New York Giants completed their initial 16-player practice squad on Tuesday by adding six players who spent training camp with other organizations.

The players signed were running back Taiwan Jones, offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield, wide receiver Dennis Houston, tight end Tyree Jackson, cornerback Kaleb Hayes and offensive lineman Jaylon Thomas.

The Giants terminated offensive lineman Tyre Phillips and cornerback Gemon Green from the practice squad.

Jones, 35, is in his 13th NFL season. A 2011 fourth-round pick by the then-Oakland Raiders, he has spent six seasons with the Raiders, five with the Buffalo Bills and one with the Houston Texans.

Jones has only 53 carries for 223 yards, and 19 receptions for 260 yards over his career. He has extensive kickoff return experience, and played more than 300 special teams snaps for the Bills in each of the past two seasons.

Mayfield, 23, was a third-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2021. He started 16 games at left guard for the Falcons in 2021, and missed the 2022 season with a back injury. Mayfield was a collegiate tackle at Michigan thrust into Atlanta’ starting lineup at guard in 2021 due to injuries.

Mayfield had a 47.7 Pro Football Focus grade in 2021, just 27.6 as a pass blocker. He surrendered 11 sacks and 57 pressures that season, with a pass-blocking efficiency score of just 94.2.

Houston, 24, played in two games for Dallas last season and caught two passes for 16 yards.

Jackson, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles, was a college quarterback at Buffalo. Jackson originally signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted player in 2019, beginning his career at quarterback. He played in 14 games over the past two seasons after converting to tight end in Philadelphia.

Hayes, 5-11 and 194 pounds, played collegiately at Oregon State and Brigham Young. He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent, and was released this week.

Thomas, 6-3 and 311 pounds, is an undrafted rookie who was with the Baltimore Ravens from May 18 until Tuesday. He played all five offensive line positions at SMU, where he appeared in in 52 games with 48 starts in five seasons. As a sophomore in 2019, he started all 13 games at left tackle.

Thomas a guest on the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast in February.

Full practice squad

DT Ryder Anderson
LB Darrian Beavers
DB Alex Cook
QB Tommy DeVito
DB Kaleb Hayes
LB Dyontae Johnson
TE Ryan Jones
WR Cole Beasley
DB Amani Oruwariye
OL Jaylon Thomas
LB Oshane Ximines
LB Tomon Fox
RB Taiwan Jones
OL Jalen Mayfield
WR Denis Houston
TE Tyree Jackson