EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants today bolstered their linebacker unit when they signed Devante Downs off their practice squad and waived tight end Garrett Dickerson.
Downs, 6-2 and 252 pounds, has been on the practice squad since Oct. 1, one week after he was waived by the Minnesota Vikings. He totaled 22 special teams snaps in Minnesota's Week 2 and 3 games at Green Bay and vs. Oakland.
Downs was a 2018 seventh-round draft choice (No. 225 overall) by the Vikings, from the University of California. He played in 11 games as a rookie and had three special teams tackles.
Dickerson joined the Giants as a rookie free agent in 2018 and played in four games. This season, he was inactive for the first three games with a quad injury before totaling nine offensive snaps and three on special teams in the next three games. Dickerson was inactive for Sunday's loss to Arizona. He does not have an NFL reception.
Dickerson's departure leaves the Giants with three tight ends in Evan Engram, Rhett Ellison and rookie Kaden Smith, who was in uniform but did not play vs. the Cardinals after debuting at New England.
With today's moves, the Giants once again have a balanced roster, with 25 players on both offense and defense (and three special teamers).
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