EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Cornerback Sam Beal has become the third Giants player to opt out of the 2020 NFL season.
He joins starting left tackle Nate Solder and wide receiver Da'Mari Scott in choosing not to play this year.
Under the agreement reached between the NFL and the Players Association, players can choose not to play in the upcoming season without penalty. The deadline is 4 p.m. tomorrow and the opt-out is irrevocable.
Beal was expected to compete for increased playing time this season. A third-round selection in the 2018 supplemental draft, he missed his entire rookie year with a shoulder injury he originally sustained at Central Michigan.
In 2019, Beal spent the first nine games of the season on injured reserve with a pulled hamstring and missed the season finale vs. Philadelphia with a shoulder injury. He played in six games with three starts and totaled 26 tackles (20 solo) and one pass defensed.
Free agent acquisition James Bradberry will almost certainly start at one corner. With DeAndre Baker on the Commissioner Exempt List and Beal opting out, the corners competing for jobs and reps are Corey Ballentine, Grant Haley, Montre Hartage, 2020 draft choices Darnay Holmes (fourth round) and Chris Williamson (seventh) and perhaps second-year pro Julian Love.
*Linebacker Josiah Tauaefa was activated off the reserve/COVID list, one day after he was placed on it.
View photos of the Giants' active roster as it currently stands.
OT Jackson Barton
WR C.J. Board
CB James Bradberry
LB Cam Brown
LB TJ Brunson
DB Adrian Colbert
LB Carter Coughlin
LB Tae Crowder
P Riley Dixon
LB Devante Downs
(Kevin Terrell via AP)
DB Nate Ebner
TE Evan Engram
LB Kyler Fackrell
OT Cameron Fleming
RB Wayne Gallman
K Graham Gano
G Nick Gates
DB Madre Harper
G Will Hernandez
DL B.J. Hill
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
DB Darnay Holmes
DT Austin Johnson
QB Daniel Jones
LS Casey Kreiter
DE Niko Lalos
DL Dexter Lawrence
G Shane Lemieux
RB Dion Lewis
CB Julian Love
WR Austin Mack
LB Blake Martinez
LB David Mayo
QB Colt McCoy
DL R.J. McIntosh
(Scott Boehm via AP)
DB Xavier McKinney
RB Alfred Morris
OL Kyle Murphy
OT Matt Peart
S Jabrill Peppers
WR Dante Pettis
C Spencer Pulley
DB Logan Ryan
DE Jabaal Sheard
WR Sterling Shepard
WR Darius Slayton
(AP Photo/Michael Perez)
TE Kaden Smith
WR Golden Tate III
OT Andrew Thomas
TE Levine Toilolo
DL Dalvin Tomlinson
DL Leonard Williams
CB Isaac Yiadom
G Kevin Zeitler
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