EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - Last week, the Giants replaced an injured defensive end with a defensive back. Today, they replaced an injured defensive back with a defensive end.
The team placed cornerback Bruce Johnson, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last week, on injured reserve. Johnson's roster spot was filled when the Giants were awarded defensive end Alex Hall, who was with the Giants in training camp, off waivers from the Arizona Cardinals.
Last Thursday, the Giants placed defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka on injured reserve with a neck injury and replaced him on the roster with defensive back/return specialist Will Blackmon.
Hall, 25, played in 2008 and 2009 for the Cleveland Browns. He was traded on April 2 from the Browns to the Eagles, who waived him on July 28. Hall was awarded to the Giants off waivers the following day.
Hall played in three preseason games for the Giants and had eight defensive and one special teams tackles. He missed the preseason finale against New England with a shoulder injury. Hall was waived/injured on Sept. 4 and reached an injury settlement with the team.
The Cardinals signed Hall on Sept. 21. He was on the roster, but inactive, for four games before his release on Saturday.
Hall was chosen from St. Augustine College by Cleveland on the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft, the 231st overall selection. In two seasons he played in 30 games with two starts and had 36 tackles (26 solo), three sacks and two forced fumbles. He also added 18 special teams tackles.
As a rookie in 2008, Hall played in all 16 games with two starts and finished with 26 tackles (18 solo), three sacks and 12 special teams tackles. Last year, he played in 14 games and had 10 tackles (eight solo) and six special teams tackles.
Hall played in 30 games with 29 starts at St. Augustine, where he set school records with 26 sacks for 168 yards and 51 tackles for losses. He finished his career with 156 tackles. Hall earned a degree in history. He attended C.H. Flowers High School in Springdale, Md.
Johnson, a second-year pro, played in six of the Giants' first seven games (he was inactive vs. Chicago on Oct. 3). He had one defensive tackle and four special teams tackles.
