EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – No position group on the Giants has undergone as much continuous change in the last two months as the linebackers.
It began with the big roster cutdown on Aug. 31, when five backers were waived or placed on injured reserve. Two days later, B.J. Goodson was traded to Green Bay. Since then, Nate Stupar was released, re-signed, and cut again; Tuzar Skipper was claimed off waivers, played six games and waived; and Kareem Martin and rookie Ryan Connelly were placed on injured reserve.
Alec Ogletree and Lorenzo Carter missed games because of injury. Eight different players have started a game at the four linebacker positions and only Markus Golden, the team's sack leader with 5.0, has started every game.
The additions since the beginning of the season include David Mayo, who has started four games and is the team's fourth-leading tackler with 33, including 1.5 sacks; Josiah Tauafea, who was signed off the practice squad on Oct. 1; and Chris Peace, awarded to the Giants off waivers from the Los Angeles Chargers when Connelly was placed on I.R. on Sept. 30.
The carousel turned again yesterday, when Skipper and tight end Garrett Dickerson were waived and linebackers Devante Downs (off the practice squad) and Deone Bucannon (a free agent) joined the team.
Bucannon is an intriguing addition because of his experience both league-wide (58 starts in 78 regular-season and postseason games) and in defensive coordinator James Bettcher's scheme. He played the first four of his five seasons with Arizona under Bettcher, including three (2015-17) when the latter was the coordinator.
"The defense is familiar to me," Bucannon said after practice today. "I know Coach Bettch and, of course, everybody here is great. Great people, I'm excited to be here."
Bucannon had a five-game stopover with Tampa Bay this season before he was released on Oct. 9, so he has to flush the Buccaneers' system out of his mind while learning the updates to Bettcher's.
"There are a few different terminologies as far as they just have different words for the same things," he said. "Like I said, I'm fortunate enough to get in a system that I understand and I'll be able to hit the ground running instead of having that extra handicap. So, I'm excited to go out there."
Because of his big head start, Bucannon should have no trouble getting up to speed before the Giants face the Lions on Sunday in Detroit.
"He knows the system enough to get up and running quickly," coach Pat Shurmur said. "We'll try to get him ready to go for this week if we can."
Photos from the career of new Giants linebacker Deone Bucannon.
Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) fumbles as he is sacked by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Packers recovered the football. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2015, file photo, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) is sacked by strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) and defensive end Calais Campbell (93) during the first half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz. Bucannon plays inside linebacker, but is listed in the Cardinals depth chart as a "moneybacker." (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 23-0. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell (35) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (5) is sacked by Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (23) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Aug. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) recovers a fumble as Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen (55) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Dallas Cowboys tight end Blake Jarwin (89) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals defensive back Antoine Bethea (41) and linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) after catching a pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals' Tyrann Mathieu (32) and Deone Bucannon (20) during the second half of an NFL football game at Twickenham Stadium in London, Sunday Oct. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) reacts after dropping Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (7) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20), left, tackles Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) during the first half of an NFL football game at Twickenham Stadium in London, Sunday Oct. 22, 2017. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Arizona Cardinals' Deone Bucannon signs autographs for fans before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during a preseason NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Markus Golden (44) and Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) celebrate Golden's sack of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan during the second of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Philadelphia Eagles' Zach Ertz (86) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals' Deone Bucannon (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (23) during an NFL football training camp practice Saturday, July 27, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (36) hits Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) pressures New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
San Diego Chargers wide receiver Dontrelle Inman, top, is hit by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon as he tries to catch a pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) celebrates a stop against the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) lines up against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, center, is tackled by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) is tackled in the end zone for a safety by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) and Kevin Minter, bottom, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce, right, loses the football as Arizona Cardinals' Deone Bucannon, left, strips the ball away during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the Chiefs 17-14. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) during an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Washington State defensive back Deone Bucannon runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Washington State defensive back Deone Bucannon runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
FILE - In this Dec. 21, 2013, file photo, Washington State safety Deone Bucannon (20) runs back an interception during the first half of the NCAA New Mexico Bowl college football game against Colorado State in Albuquerque, N.M. Bucannon was selected in the first round, 27th overall, by the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL draft on Thursday, May 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
Bucannon arrives with an impressive resume. His career totals include 395 tackles (302 solo), 7.0 sacks, two interceptions – one of which he returned 39 yards for a touchdown at Philadelphia in 2015 - two passes defensed, 27 tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hits, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
"He's tough, he's physical, he has some familiarity," Shurmur said. "He played at a high level in Bettch's defense, so we felt like he'd be a good fit. Another guy to add to the inside linebacker group."
And he's another former Cardinal wearing Giants blue. Bucannon joins Golden, starting safety Antoine Bethea and reserve defensive tackle Olsen Pierre as defenders who played under Bettcher in Arizona. Fullback Eli Penny also played for the Cardinals in 2017.
"I go back with Markus and Antoine," Bucannon said. "We had a lot of success together in this defense, and I'm happy and fortunate because they're playmakers on this team and maybe I can continue to piggyback off them and be behind them and see what they're doing right. And of course, whatever form of role I'm going to have, I'm going to be able to hit it running."
Golden is excited to again line up with Bucannon.
"I'm glad to have him and have him here as a Giant and I'm ready to roll with him," Golden said. "I know what he is going to bring every day, so I'm excited to have him out there with me.
"He can cover, and he can play the run like a real linebacker. I feel like Buc brings an intensity, he will be able to fly around. Whether it's in coverage and in the run game, he will be able to get in there and make plays, too. … I know he will be able to jump in, I know he knows the defense, he played in it before. There are a couple things he will have to learn that we changed up, but I know he knows the basics. Whatever he has to do to learn the rest, I know he will do it."
Bucannon believes he can contribute at both linebacker and safety. He is wearing No. 29, which is more suited to the latter.
"I can do both," he said. "I feel like I'm a playmaker. I'm an athlete. So, I'm comfortable I can play the run, I've always prided myself on doing that. I don't like being categorized into a one category kind of player, I can do everything. Like I said, I'm looking forward to adding whatever it is, special teams to playing on the field, whatever it is. I'm looking forward to plugging in and doing what I need to do."
So are the Giants.
*Rookie cornerback Corey Ballentine, who remains in the NFL concussion protocol, was the only Giants player who did not practice today.
Wide receiver Sterling Shepard, who missed the last two games because he is in the protocol, practiced on a limited non-contact basis.
"He's been out there practicing pretty much full, but he's still in the protocol," Shurmur said. "That's kind of a unique answer to the question, but that's where he's at right now."
Running back Saquon Barkley (ankle) was also limited.
"Just some game soreness," Shurmur said. "I expect him to play this week though."
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