The New York Giants waived five players on Monday, mostly practice squad mainstays, as they prepare for rookie minicamp this coming weekend.
The New York Giants have begun the process of trimming their roster on Monday, waiving five prior to this weekend’s rookie minicamp.
At the head of the list were safety Ryan Murphy and running back Terrell Watson, the only two on the list who had previous NFL regular season experience. Punter Austin Rehkow, wide receiver Canaan Severin, and guard Damien Mama will likewise depart.
Murphy was the only one who saw regular season action with the Giants, playing the final three games of the 2017 regular season, picking up one tackle in the final game of the year against Washington. Murphy previously served on the practice squad of Denver’s Super Bowl champion team from 2015-16.
Watson was signed by the Giants on Jan. 24, entering the league as an undrafted free agent from Division II Azusa Pacific in 2015. He has played in 11 NFL regular season games, including 10 with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Watson scored a preseason touchdown against the Giants in the pair’s exhibition opener last summer and scored a regular season touchdown with the Eagles in 2016.
Severin spent the 2017 preseason with both the Steelers and Giants. After picking up 24 yards on a pair of receptions in the aforementioned August showdown, the Giants brought him in, and he picked up four receptions for 44 yards in the remainder of preseason slate. He joined the Giants practice squad last December and was signed to a reserve/futures contract shortly after.
Mama is a USC alum, earning second-team All Pac-12 honors as a junior in 2016. He spent a majority of the season on Kansas City’s practice squad, but was signed to the Giants practice squad in December.
Rehkow was signed on Jan. 1. Handling special teams double duties as both kicker and punter at Idaho, Rehkow spent last summer with the Buffalo Bills. With his release, newly signed veteran Riley Dixon is the only punter on the roster.
The Giants will hold their rookie minicamp on Friday and Saturday.
