The Giants have become the 23rd NFL team to use their IR-DTR slot this season, announcing today in a press release that they’ve placed defensive end Owa Odighizuwa on injured reserve with the designation to return. The move ensures that Odighizuwa won’t be eligible to practice for six weeks and will have to miss eight weeks of games, meaning he’ll be eligible to return for Week 17.
Odighizuwa, 23, was selected by the Giants in the third round of the 2015 draft, but hasn’t seen the field much in his rookie season. Appearing in four games, Odighizuwa has recorded three tackles, and will now be sidelined for most of the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.
To fill the roster spot vacated by Odighizuwa, the Giants have promoted tight end Jerome Cunningham to their 53-man roster. With Larry Donnell unlikely to play this weekend, the Giants needed to add an extra tight end to their roster to complement rookie Will Tye, who is currently the only healthy player at the position for the team.
Although the Giants’ 53-man squad is full again for now, the club may need to make another cut later this week, with Jason Pierre-Paul aiming to return to action for Sunday’s game against the Bucs.