EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Landon Collins' season officially ended today when the Giants placed the two-time Pro Bowl safety and their leading tackler on injured reserve. Collins will undergo surgery to repair the partially-torn rotator cuff he suffered in last Sunday's overtime victory against Chicago.
The Giants filled the opening on their roster by signing defensive back Kenny Ladler, who has been on their practice squad since Nov. 14. Earlier this season, Ladler played five games for the Washington Redskins, whom the Giants will face Sunday in FedExField. He was credited with six special teams tackles (one solo) before Washington released him on Nov. 6.
Ladler, 6-1 and 200 pounds, entered the NFL as a rookie free agent in 2014 with the Buffalo Bills. He played collegiately at Vanderbilt. Ladler played in two games on special teams for the Bills that season before going on injured reserve with a broken forearm.
In 2015, Ladler was waived on the final cutdown and was out of football. The following two seasons, he played for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Last year, Ladler was an All-CFL first-team selection at linebacker after recording 86 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Washington signed Ladler on Jan. 9, released him on Sept. 1, signed him to its practice squad the following day, and to the active roster on Sept. 11. He most recently played on Oct. 21 against Dallas.
Ladler played in 50 games with 28 starts at Vanderbilt from 2010-13. He recorded 291 tackles and intercepted nine passes.
Collins leads the Giants this with 96 tackles (67 solo), just as he was the team leader in each of his first three years with 108, 125 and 99 tackles. He was a selected a first-team All-Pro in 2016 and to the Pro Bowl in 2016 and 2017.
Collins has missed just 16 defensive snaps all season.
*The Giants also signed punter Brock Miller to their practice squad. Miller was with the San Francisco 49ers from January to May in 2017.
Miller (5-11, 190) attended Southern Utah University, where in 2013 he averaged 43.4 yards on 79 punts. Miller had 67 punts for a 43.2 average in 2012 and 18 for 40.4 in 2011.
Miller is a lefty. Last January, the Jacksonville Jaguars brought him in prior to the AFC Championship Game to help prepare their punt returners for New England's left-footed punter, Ryan Allen.
The Giants will face a left-footed punter this week in Washington's Tress Way.
