EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants today bolstered their defense and special teams with a series of roster moves in advance of their game tomorrow against the Bengals in Cincinnati.
Two rookies – linebacker Tae Crowder and safety Xavier McKinney – were activated from the team's injured reserve list. Kicker Graham Gano was activated from the Reserve/Covid-19 list. And rookie defensive end Niko Lalos was a standard elevation from the practice squad.
Crowder, one of the Giants' four seventh-round draft choices this year, played in five of the team's first six games, starting two. He made 17 tackles (nine solo), but his most significant contribution was the game-deciding touchdown he scored on a 43-yard fumble return in the victory against Washington on Oct. 18.
But Crowder hasn't played since that game. He injured his hamstring, went on I.R. and missed four games.
McKinney will make his NFL debut in Cincinnati. The team's second-round draft choice this year, he has been on injured reserve since Sept. 6, having been placed there following surgery to repair a fractured foot he suffered in training camp. McKinney is expected to join a safety rotation that includes veterans Jabrill Peppers, Logan Ryan and second-year man Julian Love.
In three seasons at the University of Alabama, McKinney played in 41 games with starts in each of his last 28 games and totaled 176 tackles (108 solo), including 13 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, five interceptions – returning two for touchdowns - 20 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Gano's 79 points place him ninth among NFL kickers. He has made 21 of 22 field goal attempts this season, missing only a 57-yard try in Chicago in Week 2. Gano has made 20 consecutive attempts, the NFL's second-longest active streak behind Seattle's Jason Myers (23). He is also tied with Aldrick Rosas for the second-longest streak in Giants history, nine behind Josh Brown.
View photos of Giants kicker Graham Gano in action
Riley Dixon (9), Graham Gano (5)
New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (5) practicing before the start of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Al Drago)
New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (5) celebrates during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 02, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Buccaneers beat the Giants 25-23. (Cooper Neill via AP)
New York Giants Riley Dixon (9) holds as New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (5) attempts a field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)
New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (5) stretches before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Buccaneers defeated the Giants 25-23. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (5) kicks a field goal as punter Riley Dixon (9) holds during warm ups prior to an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, in Philadelphia. The Eagles defeated the Giants 22-21. (Perry Knotts via AP)
New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (5) kicks the football for a field goal as punter Riley Dixon (9) holds during the NFL game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Giants 17-13. (Scott Boehm via AP)
New York Giants' Graham Gano (5) kicks off during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, in Philadelphia. The Eagles defeated the Giants 22-21. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (5) kicks a field goal during a NFL football game against the Washington Football Team Sunday Oct. 18, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (5) kicks off during a week 8 regular season Monday Night football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium on November 2nd, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (5) kicks off during a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Monday Nov. 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (5) kicks the ball in warm ups prior to an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. Rams won 17-9. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (5) kicks a field goal during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Giants, 37-34. (James D. Smith via AP)
New York Giants punter Riley Dixon (9) holds the ball for place kicker Graham Gano (5) during an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys beat the Giants 37-34. (Cooper Neill via AP)
New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (6) during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday August 19, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants' Riley Dixon (9) and Graham Gano (5) celebrate a field goal kicked by Gano as tight end Evan Engram (88) looks on in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (6) during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday August 19, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (5) celebrates kicking a field goal as punter Riley Dixon (9) stands by in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Riley Dixon (9), Graham Gano (5)
New York Giants kicker Graham Gano (6) kicks a field goal during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday August 21, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants Kicker Graham Gano (6) during a training camp scrimmage at Met Life Stadium on Friday August 28, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Riley Dixon (9), Graham Gano (5)
New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (5) warms up before a week 1 regular season Monday Night football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium on September 13th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Graham Gano (5)
Graham Gano (5), Riley Dixon (9)
Riley Dixon (9), Graham Gano (5)
Riley Dixon (9), Graham Gano (5)
Riley Dixon (9), Graham Gano (5)
Riley Dixon (9), Graham Gano (5)
New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (5) kicks a field goal during a week 6 regular season football game against the Washington Football Team at MetLife Stadium on October 18th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Graham Gano (5)
Riley Dixon (9), Graham Gano (5)
New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (5) kicks a PAT during a week 8 regular season Monday Night football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium on November 2nd, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Lalos has spent the entire season on the Giants' practice squad. He was signed as rookie free agent from Dartmouth on April 27, waived at the end of training camp on Sept. 5 and signed to the practice squad the following day.
In 2019, Lalos was selected first-team All-Ivy League after posting career-high totals of 35 tackles (21 solo), 10 stops for loss and 5.5 sacks. He was chosen his team's MVP at the Hula Bowl after notching two sacks and a forced fumble.
*The transaction news was not all positive. Second-year linebacker Oshane Ximines will undergo surgery Monday to repair his right rotator cuff. Ximines, who has been on injured reserve since Oct. 9, returned to practice with McKinney on Monday.
Ximines played in the season's first four games, starting three. He registered five tackles (four solo) and three quarterback hits. Ximines was injured in the Giants' loss to the Rams in Los Angeles on Oct. 4.
Each of the Giants' starting outside linebackers at the beginning of the season has suffered injuries that required surgery. Lorenzo Carter, who started the first five games, suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Dallas a week after Ximines was hurt. Carter underwent surgery and is out for the season.
In 2019, Carter and Ximines tied for second on the Giants with 4.5 sacks.
Vote your favorite Giants for the 2021 Pro Bowl
Voting is now open for the 2021 Pro Bowl. Vote for your favorite Giants players
