There is plenty of youth sprinkled throughout the Giants’ roster, but the group got a bit older Monday with the signing of running back Alfred Morris, who finished second on the team in rushing in 2020.
Morris’ return had been in the works for the past week.
The 32-year-old is an interesting player to bring back, considering he was an unexpected signing to the practice squad last season after Saquon Barkley went down in Week 2. Barkley started training camp this summer on the physically unable to perform list following reconstructive knee surgery, but is making steady progress, as his workload on side practice fields has increased in recent days. There is still plenty of optimism he will be ready for the start of the season.
Morris is trying to make it into his 10th NFL season. He played in nine games for the Giants in 2020, rushing for 238 yards and one touchdown, averaging 4.3 yards per attempt. He also caught one touchdown pass. Both of the touchdowns came in the same game, the 17-12 upset win at Seattle on Dec. 6.
“I can’t tell you how much I feel on a personal level about Alfred and what he did for our team last year, about how he carries himself, about how he is as a teammate, how he is in the team meeting,’’ head coach Joe Judge said. “Look, I walked by him when I was coming in the building and he was waiting outside for his clearance from his test, and we got to have a conversation sitting outside and it’s just refreshing seeing his face. He’s always smiling and good, great energy out there.’’
Morris broke in with a flourish, rushing for 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns for Washington in 2012. He cracked the 1,000-yard mark the next two seasons, but never again attained his rookie totals,
Morris adds more experienced depth to a backfield that included Devontae Booker, Corey Clement and rookie Gary Brightwell.
Somewhere in Tampa, Tom Brady might have flinched Monday morning. Former Giants defensive ends Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka, all looking trim and fit, were at the team’s facility and watched practice from the field. They were in the building to tape their reminiscences of Super Bowl XLVI for this season’s 10th anniversary weekend celebration.
There was a Kadarius Toney sighting. The rookie receiver fielded a few onside kicks after practice and is close to returning after starting his first NFL camp on the COVID-19 list.
“He’s still building up, but we will start seeing a little bit more of him day by day as the trainers keep allowing us to have him more,’’ Judge said.
Barkley is “showing progress, tangible progress every day with our medical staff, with our strength staff,’’ Judge said. … Center Jonotthan Harrison passed his physical and was removed from the PUP list.