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Giants sign LB Jarrad Davis off Lions' practice squad; OL Shane Lemieux to IR

Dec 28, 2022 at 01:55 PM

Michael Eisen

Giants.com Senior Writer/Editor

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants today added depth, experience and a former first-round draft choice to their defense when they signed linebacker Jarrad Davis off the Detroit Lions' practice squad.

In a corresponding move, guard Shane Lemieux was placed on injured reserve.

Davis, 6-1 and 245 pounds, has spent five of his six NFL seasons with the Lions. He played for the Jets in 2021.

Davis, who turned 28 last month, has played in 67 regular-season games with 50 starts. His career totals include 327 tackles (217 solo), 10.5 sacks, 23 quarterback hits, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 10 passes defensed and one interception. Davis also has six special teams tackles (three solo).

He could make his Giants debut Sunday at home against the Indianapolis Colts.

This year, Davis was released at the end of training camp and signed two days later to Detroit's practice squad. He was elevated to the roster and played in three games, all Lions victories – Nov. 13 at Chicago, Dec. 11 vs. Minnesota, and Dec. 18 in MetLife Stadium against the Jets. He had three tackles (one solo) and one pass defensed.

Davis' most productive season was in 2018 when he started all 16 games and was credited with a career-high totals of 100 tackles (73 solo) and 6.0 sacks.

Davis was the 21st overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. He played four seasons at the University of Florida, where he had 205 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 44 games.

Lemieux played just one game this season for the second consecutive year. He suffered a toe injury in training camp and was placed on injured reserve on Aug. 31. Lemieux returned to practice on Nov. 7 and started at left guard in the Giants' game vs. Detroit on Nov. 20. But he lasted just 39 snaps before he was replaced by rookie Joshua Ezeudu, who is now on injured reserve with a neck injury.

Lemieux joined the Giants as a fifth-round draft choice in 2020. As a rookie, he played in 12 games with starts in each of the last nine games at left guard. In 2021, Lemieux started the season-opener vs. Denver, but left the game with a knee injury and spent the rest of the season on injured reserve.

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(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) defends against the New York Jets during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) waits to take the field before an NFL football game against the New York Jets on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) defends against the New York Jets during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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New York Jets' Jarrad Davis (52) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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New York Jets middle linebacker Jarrad Davis (52) defends against the Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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New York Jets middle linebacker Jarrad Davis (52) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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New York Jets middle linebacker Jarrad Davis (52) reacts against the Cincinnati Bengals during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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New York Jets linebacker Jarrad Davis (52) lines up for the snap during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)

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New York Jets' Jarrad Davis in action during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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New York Jets linebacker Jarrad Davis (52) runs on to the field before a NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)

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New York Jets middle linebacker Jarrad Davis (52) defends against the Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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New York Jets middle linebacker Jarrad Davis (52) reacts against the Cincinnati Bengals during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

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Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) is unable to hold on to the ball after a hit from Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Jose Juarez

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Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

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Detroit Lions middle linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) plays against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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Detroit Lions middle linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) lines up during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Atlanta. The Detroit Lions won 23-22. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)

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Detroit Lions middle linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. The Lions won 17-3. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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Detroit Lions middle linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) works against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Atlanta. The Detroit Lions won 23-22. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)

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Carolina Panthers running back Mike Davis (28) is tackled by Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)

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Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

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Detroit Lions middle linebacker Jarrad Davis plays against the Chicago Bears during an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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Washington Redskins quarterback Dwayne Haskins (7) is sacked by Detroit Lions middle linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

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Detroit Lions middle linebacker Jarrad Davis plays against the Dallas Cowboys during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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Detroit Lions middle linebacker Jarrad Davis sets up on defense during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Austin Blythe (66) blocks against Detroit Lions middle linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

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Detroit Lions middle linebacker Jarrad Davis plays against the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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Detroit Lions middle linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. The Lions won 17-3. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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Detroit Lions middle linebacker Jarrad Davis plays against the Carolina Panthers during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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Philadelphia Eagles' Darren Sproles, left, is hit by Detroit Lions' Jarrad Davis during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

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Detroit Lions linebacker Jarrad Davis (40) tackles Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson (32) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)