EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants' search for offensive line help has led to a reunion with an old friend.
The team announced it has signed Justin Pugh to its practice squad. Pugh, 33, was the Giants' first-round draft choice in 2013 and played his first five NFL seasons for them. In 2018, Pugh left as a free agent to join the Arizona Cardinals, for whom he also played five seasons. Pugh started five games of the 2022 season before tearing his ACL on Oct. 16 at Seattle. He hasn't played since.
In a corresponding move, the Giants terminated the practice squad contract of running back Taiwan Jones.
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2023 cycle.
Pugh, 6-5 and 311 pounds, has played in 120 regular-season games with 119 starts – 36 at right tackle, 26 at left guard and one at left tackle for the Giants and 47 at left guard, seven at right guard and two at right tackle for the Cardinals. He has also started one postseason game for each team at left guard.
Pugh started all 16 games as a rookie in 2013 and in 2019 in Arizona.
The Giants' O-line has struggled at times due to injuries, inexperience and ineffectiveness.
Left tackle Andrew Thomas, a second-team All-Pro last year, has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury. Rookie center John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) and guard Shane Lemieux (groin) were injured last night and their status, beginning with the Giants' next game, Sunday in Miami, is unknown.
Right tackle Evan Neal, right guard Marcus McKethan and left tackle Joshua Ezeudu, filling in for Thomas, are all second-year pros who missed all or part of their rookie seasons with injuries.
View the best photos from Justin Pugh's time with the Giants.
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