Updated Aug. 30, 2026, 4:15 p.m. ET
The New York Giants have wrapped up their 2026 preseason, and now the work begins on creating the 53-man roster they will carry into the regular season.
Big Blue closed the exhibition slate with a 23-6 win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Friday night and finished 2-1 in John Harbaugh’s first summer as head coach. Before the club can turn fully toward the September 13 opener against the Dallas Cowboys, they have to trim from the 90-player offseason limit to the 53-player regular-season maximum.
Follow along with their cuts here:
Giants release preseason standout
Linebacker Trace Ford has been released with hopes of returning to the practice squad. Ford has one of the best preseason performances on the team.
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Wide receiver Braxton Barrios has been released, but it may only be a temporary move.
Some viewed Caleb Murphy as a roster sleeper, but he has ultimately been released.
The Giants are parting ways with wide receiver Dalen Cambre, who seemingly earned a spot on the 53-man roster. But alas, not so much.
After releasing Brandon Allen, the Giants have also decided to part ways with quarterback Jake Haener. They may bring him back to the practice squad.
Despite being one of the Giants’ highest-graded players this preseason, offensive lineman Jake Kubas has been shown the door.
The Giants have cut backup center Lucas Patrick, who has dealt with multiple injury issues this summer.
The Giants have released quarterback Brandon Allen, who was among the team’s lowest-graded players during the preseason.
Tight end Tanner Conner has been released.
Despite receiving some first-team reps this summer, defensive lineman Zacch Pickens has been released.
Linebacker Darius Muasau fought until the bitter end, but unless he lands on the practice squad, his Giants career is over.
The Giants continued making personnel moves on Sunday, waiving fullback Grant Finley with the intention of signing him to their practice squad if he clears.
Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports that the Giants are holding a Sunday practice before they make final roster decisions, which may push news of any personnel moves into the evening.
Giants keeping eyes on trade market
The Giants reportedly had strong interest in Chicago Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter before he was shipped off to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday morning.
After making eight cuts on Saturday evening, the Giants must still make 29 cuts or transactions in order to reach the 53-man roster limit. The deadline is 6:00 p.m. ET.
There has been speculation that veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton could be among those released.
The Giants officially announced eight releases on Saturday evening. They are as follows:
- CB Ugo Amadi
- RB Damon Bankston
- TE Josiah Deguara
- DL Leki Fotu
- WR Isaiah Hodgins
- OL Brenden Jaimes
- LB Anfernee Orji
- WR Kobe Prentice
There are no surprises among the group. Bankston and Hodgins could be practice squad candidates.
Harbaugh revealed to reports on Saturday that long-snapper Ben Mann has officially made the 53-man roster. He had no competition throughout the summer, so that comes as little surprise.
Zvada wins kicking job
Harbaugh announced after Friday’s game that rookie Dominic Zvada has won the kicking competition.
“He’ll win the job; he’ll be the kicker,” Harbaugh told reporters.
Zvada went 3-for-3 on field goals against the Jets from 23, 53, and 46 yards and converted both extra points. The undrafted Michigan product finished the preseason perfect on field goals and extra points. That decision means Ben Sauls is expected to be released or traded. Nothing official has been announced on that front yet.
Giants’ curveball at wide receiver
Wide receiver Calvin Austin III suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Tuesday’s practice and was placed on injured reserve (IR) Thursday. The non-contact injury ended Austin’s first season in New York after he signed a one-year deal in free agency and had been lining up as a primary slot option.
Austin’s absence opened the door for others at wide receiver, including Odell Beckham Jr., Braxton Berrios and Dalen Cambre, as the Giants sort the final spots behind Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney and rookie Malachi Fields.
NFL roster cut deadline
Deadline: Sunday, August 30 at 6:00 p.m. ET.
The Giants will not practice again until after Sunday’s deadline, so their evaluation period is over. They have all of the information they need to start making moves.
Giants 53-man roster projection
There are still several question marks on the Giants’ 90-man roster, which made the final 53-man roster projection a difficult one. The kicking job is settled with Zvada. Austin’s placement on injured reserve removed one wide receiver from the 53-man math and tightened the remaining decisions among Beckham, Berrios and Cambre.
Final pre-cut Giants Wire 53-man roster projection
Giants 2026 preseason results
- Week 1, Aug. 15 | Minnesota Vikings 13, Giants 10
- Week 2, Aug. 22 | Giants 26, Miami Dolphins 3
- Week 3, Aug. 28 | Giants 23, New York Jets 6
Giants 2026 schedule
- Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13 vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
- Week 2: Monday, Sept. 21 at Los Angeles Rams, 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
- Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27 vs. Tennessee Titans, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4 vs. Arizona Cardinals, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 11 at Washington Commanders, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 6: Sunday, Oct 18 vs. New Orleans Saints, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 7: Sunday, Oct 25 at Houston Texans, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 8: BYE
- Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8 at Philadelphia Eagles, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 10: Thursday, Nov. 12 vs. Washington Commanders, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime
- Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 29 at Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6 vs. San Francisco 49ers, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13 at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 20 vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
- Week 16: Monday, Dec. 28 at Detroit Lions, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3 at Dallas Cowboys, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
- Week 18: Saturday/Sunday, Jan. 9/10 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, TBD, TBD
