The Giants continue to scoop up former AFC North O-linemen. After making two trades to bolster their front, they are planning to add Matt Skura to their practice squad, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com tweets.
Skura spent four seasons as a Ravens starter, working at center and guard. He operated as Baltimore’s starting center for most of Lamar Jackson‘s tenure, helping the team to historic rushing totals. The Ravens, however, did not re-sign him in free agency this year.
The Dolphins released Skura earlier this week, doing so after acquiring Greg Mancz from the Ravens. The Giants will give Skura, 27, another opportunity. This move comes after the Giants acquired center Billy Price from the Bengals and guard Ben Bredeson from the Ravens.
Although Skura is a Duke alum, his last year as a Blue Devils blocking cog (2015) came before Daniel Jones became the team’s starting quarterback. Still, this will bring a 51-game starter to Big Blue’s practice squad. Skura lost his starting job late last season, when Pro Football Focus graded him as one of the league’s worst centers, but he was coming off a severe 2019 setback. Skura, who started 16 games for the Ravens in 2018, tore his ACL, MCL and PCL late in the 2019 regular season.
The offensive line has been a sticking point for the Giants for years, and this preseason was no exception. At center, the team has Nick Gates in place as a starter, with Price on the active roster as a backup. Price has not been a full-time starter at center since his 2018 rookie season.
Skura might end up starting this year, if his injuries heal right and he can move on from them. That hand trouble he had severely impacted his productivity, especially snapping, even before his knee injury. Either way, it’s not a bad bet. If Skura proves unable to recover his prior form, New York can cut him loose easily. If he does, it’s an instant upgrade.
I agree with the previous comment. With the depth of the OL a being suspect at best, and even some of the starters being below average, what do the Giants have to lose by bringing in lineman for a look see. Can’t be any worse then what they have now and may even find an upgrade or two in the process.