The New York Giants have signed linebacker Bernadrick McKinney to their practice squad, with the intent to see what physical shape he is in and how he can fit into the team’s system, according to head coach Joe Judge.
McKinney, 28, was released by the Dolphins at the end of training camp after being dealt there from Houston in the Shaq Lawson deal. He reportedly had interest from several teams, but the Giants plan to activate him as quickly as possible to help make up for the loss of Blake Martinez to a torn ACL.
Over his six seasons in Houston, McKinney started 77 of 80 games and was a Pro Bowler in 2018. He recorded 530 tackles (35 for loss), 30 QB hits, 11.5 sacks, one interception, 14 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Judge also told the media on Monday that the team plans to activate cornerback Aaron Robinson from the physically unable to perform list and linebacker Elerson Smith from injured reserve this week, as well.
Robinson, the Giants’ third-round pick in 2021, was placed on PUP during training camp after undergoing core muscle surgery. Per NFL rules, players on PUP must miss six weeks and then either return to practice, get placed on injured reserve, or be released within five weeks, and if the player returns to practice, the team has three weeks to either activate him or place him on IR.
Smith, the Giants’ fourth-round pick, was placed on IR on Sept. 2 due to a hamstring issue. He was eligible to return in Week 4 but was not ready until this week.
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Those three moves, plus the activation of linebacker Cam Brown prior to Sunday’s loss to the Rams, will hopefully help a Giants defense that has regressed from last season despite mostly the same unit.
“I feel like we show glimpses of doing things well, we’re just not consistent in stringing them along,” cornerback Adoree Jackson, one of the new additions, said Monday. “It’s frustrating, but we’re challenging ourselves to do better and get better, and don’t ever question our effort or our level of compete.”
Judge did not have any further injury updates on Andrew Thomas, Kadarius Toney, or any other injured Giants, although Nate Solder did tell the media he dislocated his finger in Sunday’s game, but it’s “just a little bruised so it’s fine.”
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