The New York Giants announced Tuesday afternoon that they’ve released veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
The Giants initially signed Smith-Schuster along with Odell Beckham Jr. and Braxton Berrios earlier this summer following a veteran workout. The Giants sought to add both depth and competition to a receiver position that’s being rebuilt on the fly. Smith-Schuster spent the last week dealing with an “old knee” (in the words of Giants head coach John Harbaugh).
Smith-Schuster wasn’t mentioned often in practice reports, even before his knee flared up. Conversely, Beckham has been carving out a larger role for himself with the starters while Berrios has been a fixture on special teams. At the same time, rookie receiver Malachi Fields has been ascending, giving the Giants sorely-needed size, strength, and perimeter blocking on their offense.
This is the corresponding move to create a roster spot after the team signed running back Najee Harris earlier Tuesday. The team has signaled that they intend to emphasize the power run game, making the 240-pound Harris more valuable to their plans.