EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants today removed 36 players from their training camp/preseason roster to reach the NFL regular-season limit of 53 players.

Players no longer with the team include linebacker Mark Herzlich, who had been the third longest-tenured player on the team; Darian Thompson, who started all 16 games at free safety last season; Andrew Adams, who started 13 games at the positon in 2016; wide receiver Roger Lewis, Jr., who caught 43 passes the previous two years; and linebacker Avery Moss, the team's fifth-round draft choice in 2017.

Those still on the roster include all four quarterbacks who were in camp – Eli Manning, Davis Webb, rookie Kyle Lauletta, and Alex Tanney; five of the team's six 2018 draft choices (Saquon Barkley, Will Hernandez, Lorenzo Carter, B.J. Hill, and Kyle Lauletta); and four undrafted rookies and first-year players (center Evan Brown, safety Sean Chandler, linebacker Tae Davis, and running back Rob Martin), plus defensive tackle Josh Banks, a second-year pro who was signed as a rookie free agent in 2017 and spent the entire season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

"As I've said, I feel like we're on the right track," coach Pat Shurmur said. "We had a competitive training camp that forced us to make some tough decisions. We will continue to look to improve the roster in any way we can.

"This day is never easy because you are dealing with people who have made a commitment to your program, and while we all understand the reality of the business we're in, it doesn't make it any easier.

"When we started camp, I told the players that my hope for all of them is that if they don't make our roster, I want them to make somebody else's. So that's my desire for the men we parted ways with today."

The roster will continue to evolve, and almost certainly before the Giants open their season a week from tomorrow at home vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. Because of their 3-13 finish in 2017, they are second in line behind the Cleveland Browns in claiming players who are waived by other teams.

The Giants can begin signing players to their 10-man practice squad tomorrow.

In the moves today, four veterans had their contracts terminated: Herzlich, defensive backs Leonard Johnson and Chris Lewis-Harris, and offensive lineman Chris Scott.

Herzlich was the Giants' 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year award nominee despite spending the entire season on injured reserve after suffering a stinger in training camp. He has been one of the Giants' most popular and inspirational players after surviving cancer while playing at Boston College and returning to the field to play 88 NFL games. Herzlich's departure leaves Manning and Zak DeOssie as the only Giants players remaining from the 2011 team that won Super Bowl XLVI.

Two players were waived injured: Thompson, who missed most of the preseason with a hamstring injury, and linebacker Jordan Williams (hip/shoulder).

Thompson, the Giants' third-round draft choice in 2016, was one of five Giants players to start every game last season, when he finished third on the team with 75 tackles (61 solo).

Twenty six players were waived: running backs Jalen Simmons and Jhurell Pressley; wide receivers Roger Lewis, Jr., Kalif Raymond, Travis Rudolph, Alonzo Russell, Marquis Bundy, Amba Etta-Tawo, and Jawill Davis; tight ends Ryan O'Malley and Garrett Dickerson; offensive linemen Malcolm Bunche, Zac Kerin, and Victor Salako; defensive linemen Robert Thomas, A.J. Francis, Tyrell Chavis, and Izaah Lunsford; linebackers Calvin Munson, Warren Long, and Moss; defensive backs Grant Haley, Mike Jones, Orion Stewart, and Adams; and kicker Marshall Koehn.

Lewis, Jr., who made the 2016 roster as a rookie free agent, played in 28 games with nine starts the last two seasons. He had 43 receptions for 513 yards and four touchdowns, including 36 catches and two scores last year.

Raymond, Rudolph and Bundy also played for the Giants last season.

Thomas played in 15 games last year and 23 in two seasons with the Giants, for whom he had 20 tackles (eight solo) and 1.0 sack.

Munson played in 14 games with five starts as a rookie free agent in 2017. He had 55 tackles (35 solo), 2.0 sacks and one forced fumble.

Adams made the team as an undrafted rookie from Connecticut in 2016 and played in 30 games the previous two seasons, including all 16 with four starts last year. He had 73 tackles and one interception.

Two offensive linemen were placed on injured reserve: Nick Becton (ankle/wrist) and rookie free agent Nick Gates (foot).

Defensive lineman RJ McIntosh, the Giants' fifth-round draft choice this year, was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.

Finally, defensive lineman Josh Mauro was placed on the reserve/suspended list. He has been suspended by the NFL for the first four games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy.

The moves leave the Giants with the following roster for today:

Offense (27)

QB (4): Kyle Lauletta (R), Eli Manning, Alex Tanney, Davis Webb

RB (4+1): Saquon Barkley (R), Wayne Gallman, Robert Martin (R), Jonathan Stewart, Shane Smith (FB)

WR: (5): Odell Beckham, Jr., Cody Latimer, Hunter Sharp, Russell Shepard, Sterling Shepard

TE (4): Jerell Adams, Rhett Ellison, Evan Engram, Scott Simonson

C/G (6): Evan Brown (R), John Greco, Jon Halapio, Will Hernandez (R), John Jerry, Patrick Omameh

T (3): Ereck Flowers, Nate Solder, Chad Wheeler

Defense (23)

DL (5): Josh Banks, Damon Harrison, B.J. Hill (R), Dalvin Tomlinson, Kerry Wynn

OLB (5): Connor Barwin, Lorenzo Carter (R), Kareem Martin, Romeo Okwara, Olivier Vernon

ILB (4): Ray-Ray Armstrong, Tae Davis (R), B.J. Goodson, Alec Ogletree

CB (4): Eli Apple, Donte Deayon, Janoris Jenkins, B.W. Webb

S (5): Sean Chandler (R), Landon Collins, William Gay, Curtis Riley, Michael Thomas

Special Teams (3)

K: Aldrick Rosas

P: Riley Dixon

LS: Zak DeOssie

R = Rookie