The New York Giants' roster will receive a makeover this week. It began Monday with four players landing on injured reserve and a linebacker being signed and claimed off waivers.
The only starter to land on injured reserve was right guard D.J. Fluker. He was in a boot last week with an injured toe and dealing with a knee injury that had caused him problems for the past month or so. Fluker, who had provided a major boost to the Giants' running game since entering the lineup in Week 4, was trying to play through the injury.
Cornerback Donte Deayon (broken forearm) and linebackers Deontae Skinner (hamstring) and Curtis Grant (torn ACL) also landed on injured reserve on Monday, four days after the Giants' latest loss on Thanksgiving night to the Washington Redskins.
Short on healthy linebackers, the Giants claimed Ray-Ray Armstrong off waivers and signed Jeremy Cash. Armstrong had played in 10 games, starting five, for the 49ers this season. He was waived this past Friday despite being their second-leading tackler.
He had 53 tackles, one sack, two interceptions and a forced fumble this season. The Giants' linebackers are still looking for their first interception this year.
Cash has appeared in nine games over the past two seasons for the Carolina Panthers. He also spent some time on the New York Jets’ practice squad.
Armstrong and Cash could immediately find playing time with the Giants, who have six linebackers on injured reserve. They include Mark Herzlich, Keenan Robinson, J.T. Thomas and Nigel Harris.
B.J. Goodson (ankle), Calvin Munson (quad) and Jonathan Casillas (neck) have also been dealing with injuries. Goodson and Munson missed this past Thursday's game versus the Redskins.
Deayon is in his second season with the Giants. He was seeing more playing time in recent weeks because of injuries, suspensions and cornerback Eli Apple being made inactive the past two weeks, but fractured his forearm against Washington.
The Giants now have two open roster spots and are expected to add more help to their injury-ravaged secondary on Tuesday. Starting cornerback Janoris Jenkins is dealing with an ankle injury that could warrant season-ending surgery. A decision has not yet been made on his status, but he will miss this week’s game against the Oakland Raiders and likely more.
Former Giants cornerback Michael Hunter would seem to be an obvious option after playing well for the team this summer. But he is not eligible to re-sign with the team until next week because of an injury settlement reached with the team when he was released earlier this season.
Fluker, meanwhile, may have played his final game with the Giants. He was signed to a one-year, $3 million deal this offseason and started the season as a backup, before climbing the depth chart because of injuries and becoming an integral part of their line.
Fluker made a major difference. The Giants were in the bottom three in the NFL in rushing without him in the lineup. They were in the middle of the pack with him at right guard.