The New York Giants have a new backup running back, announcing Monday they have signed former Bills back Matt Breida.
The team also announced the signing of defensive end Jihad Ward.
Breida, 27, played for Brian Daboll in Buffalo last season, gaining 125 rushing yards, 72 receiving yards, and three touchdowns in nine games as a reserve back. Breida, an undrafted free agent signing of the Niners in 2017, has played five NFL seasons for San Francisco, Miami, and Buffalo, his best the 2018 season where he was the Niners’ feature back and racked up 1,075 yards from scrimmage and five scores.
Devontae Booker was cut this offseason, so Breida steps in as the veteran backup to Saquon Barkley in a running back room that also currently includes youngsters Gary Brightwell and Antonio Williams.
Ward, 27, spent last season in Jacksonville, where he had 32 tackles (three for loss), two sacks, and seven QB hits in 17 games. The six-year vet, who was a second-round pick of the Raiders in 2016, is a familiar face to new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who was his DC in Baltimore in 2019 and 2020.
Over his six year career, Ward has 91 tackles (12 for loss), 10 sacks, and 37 QB hits in 68 games for the Raiders, Colts, Ravens, and Jaguars.
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