With the New York Giants low on running backs, third-year receiver Kalif Raymond, who has experience at Holy Cross, partook in the rushing action at practice.
Semi-desperate times call for semi-desperate measures.
With a shortage on running backs in their first practice at home since returning from their trip to Detroit, the Giants enlisted receiver Kalif Raymond to take part in rushing drills on Sunday afternoon. According to NJ Advance Media’s Ryan Dunleavy, Raymond worked with the third-team offense, scoring a touchdown in a short yardage goal-line situation during the session.
The Giants entered Sunday with three healthy running backs, Wayne Gallman, Jonathan Stewart, and Robert Martin, as well as fullback Shane Smith. Per Dunleavy, the Giants were looking to preserve Stewart’s legs, so Raymond, who joined the team’s active roster last November, stepped in. As a receiver at Holy Cross, Raymond carried the ball 29 times, and once last year as a member of the Giants, a one-yard loss in a November win over Kansas City.
Entering his third season NFL season, having previously spent time with the Broncos and Jets, Raymond is currently entrenched in a battle for a roster spot and depth chart slots behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard. He had one reception for seven yards in Friday’s 30-17 victory over the Detroit Lions in a preseason showdown. He’s been making a name for himself in training camp with some Beckham-like catches, posted on the Giants’ official social media accounts.
?TOP PLAY ALERT?
Kalif Raymond from downtown!#GiantsCamp #GiantsPride pic.twitter.com/hEl0jtCWvc
— New York Giants (@Giants) August 1, 2018
Kalif Raymond off to the races!
Follow #GiantsCamp on Snap
?: NewYorkGiants pic.twitter.com/nmwd2mE894
— New York Giants (@Giants) August 1, 2018
In regards to their current rushing conundrum, the Giants are taking precautions when it comes to touted rookie Saquon Barkley, who suffered what the team is calling “a mild strain” last Monday. Undrafted rookie Jalen Simmons, who scored the teams’ lone touchdown in their preseason opener, is in concussion protocol after departing Friday’s game.
“We will just manage it,” Giants head coach Pat Shurmur said, according to Dunleavy. “I think we have ways we can get into different personnel groupings. We have quite a few (running backs) and we will get what we can out of them. We have a fullback in Shane Smith that can take someone’s running back work. We’ll make it work.”
