HEADLINES

Ryquell Armstead

Giants Waive RB Ryquell Armstead

June 24th, 2021 at 8:55pm CST by Ben Levine

Ryquell Armstead‘s stint in New York has ended. The Giants have waived the running back, according to Dan Salomone of the team’s website (and later passed along by the organization on Twitter).

The Temple product entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick by the Jaguars in 2019. During his rookie season, Armstead served as Leonard Fournette‘s primary backup, collecting 252 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. He got a start for Jacksonville in their 2019 season finale, finishing the game with more than 50 receiving yards and a score.

Armstead had several stints on the COVID list in 2020, and he reportedly had a pair of hospital visits while dealing with respiratory issues. As a result, the running back ended up missing the entire season, and he was waived by the Jaguars back in May.

The Giants calimed Armstead shortly thereafter, but he only stuck with his new team for about a month. The 24-year-old was competing with the likes of Devontae Booker, Elijhaa Penny, and Corey Clement for backup reps behind Saquon Barkley.

Giants Claim RB Ryquell Armstead

May 18th, 2021 at 3:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

After seeing COVID-19 wipe out his 2020 season, Ryquell Armstead will have a chance to resume his career. The Giants submitted a successful waiver claim for the running back Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

A 2019 fifth-round pick, Armstead saw action behind Leonard Fournette as a rookie in Jacksonville. Going into his second season, however, Armstead encountered perhaps the NFL’s most severe coronavirus case and needed to be hospitalized twice for significant respiratory issues. The Jaguars cut Armstead on Monday.

The Giants already handed out a notable backup running back contract, giving Devontae Booker a two-year deal worth $6MM. They also selected Gary Brightwell in the sixth round and signed Corey Clement over the weekend. The team did lose top 2020 rusher Wayne Gallman, however. Armstead, 24, will join the mix of players vying for a spot behind Saquon Barkley.

The Jags drafted Armstead 140th overall out of Temple. A Matt Rhule-era Owls recruit, Armstead played a key role for the American Athletic Conference program in his final three seasons. In 2018, he amassed 1,098 rushing yards and totaled 13 touchdowns. Armstead did not opt out in 2020, so two seasons remain on his rookie contract.

Jaguars Cut Ryquell Armstead

May 17th, 2021 at 2:25pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Ryquell Armstead will have to bounce back from his tough 2020 with a different team. The Jaguars announced they waived the running back on Monday.

A fifth-round pick out of Temple in 2019, Armstead garnered headlines last season as one of the pro athletes to be most effected by COVID-19. The young rusher spent the entire 2020 campaign on the COVID list. It was a scary situation, as Armstead reportedly dealt with serious respiratory issues and had to be hospitalized twice.

Fortunately most NFL players who tested positive were able to return to play relatively quickly, but Armstead wasn’t as lucky. Now with the Jags drafting Travis Etitenne in the first-round and the presence of breakout 2020 rookie James Robinson, the running backs room had gotten a bit crowded.

Armstead was able to make a real impact as a rookie in 2019, and got a start in Week 17. Overall he finished his only pro season to date carrying the ball 35 times for 108 yards and adding another 14 receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Here’s to hoping he’s made a full recovery and is able to sign with somebody for 2021.

Ryquell Armstead Done For Year Due To COVID-19

October 25th, 2020 at 6:10pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

For most NFL players who have tested positive for COVID-19, it has meant an absence of a game or two followed by a relatively quick return. Unfortunately that’s not going to be the case for Jaguars running back Ryquell Armstead.

Armstead is still dealing with complications from the virus and is not expected to play again this season, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. It’s a scary situation, as Schefter reports that Armstead has been hospitalized twice and has had significant respiratory issues. The same sources did say that Armstead is expected to make a full recovery in time for the 2021 season, which is great news.

Obviously there are things more important than football, and thankfully it sounds like Armstead is going to be alright. After Leonard Fournette was cut it initially looked like Armstead was set to take over as Jacksonville’s starting running back, but obviously that hasn’t happened.

Instead James Robinson has taken over that role and thrived in it. A 2019 fifth-round pick out of Temple, Armstead appeared in all 16 games as a rookie with the Jags last year, starting one. He turned 35 carries into 108 yards, and added 14 receptions for another 144 and two scores. Here’s to hoping his recovery is as swift as possible.