The Giants did not figure to be as busy the day after roster cut-downs this year as they were in year No. 1 of the Dave Gettleman/Pat Shurmur regime, but they were active Sunday. Two players — wide receiver Cody Core and offensive tackle Eric Smith — were claimed off waivers and moved onto the Giants’ 53-man roster. The Giants also signed ex-Jets tight end Eric Tomlinson and added him to the roster.
Three players with the Giants all summer — receiver Alonzo Russell and offensive tackle Brian Mihalik — initially made the roster Saturday only to learn a day later that they were released to make room for the new waiver claims. Cornerback Sam Beal was put on injured reserve. He can be designated to return to practice in six weeks and play in eight weeks.
Beal, selected in the third round of the supplemental draft last year, cannot stay on the field. He spent his entire rookie year on injured reserve following shoulder surgery and this summer missed most of the work with groin and hamstring issues.
Russell made the game-winning touchdown catch in the final preseason game and became something of a fan favorite, but the Giants opted to replace him with a more experienced receiver with a pedigree on special teams.
A year ago, the Giants underwent dramatic upheaval, as the day after the cuts they were awarded six players off waivers and dumped six players they initially put on their roster. Shurmur was more comfortable and confident with the players assembled in this year’s training camp, decreasing the need for massive changes.
Quarterback Kyle Lauletta, released by the Giants, landed on the Eagles’ practice squad. Lauletta, a 2018 fourth-round pick from Richmond, is from Exton, Pa., and so he stays local and within the NFC East.
Tomlinson, 27, started 29 games the past three seasons for the Jets and was a teammate of guard Will Hernandez at Texas-El Paso. Tomlinson is strong blocker and not much of a pass receiver, as he has only 16 receptions for 193 yards and one touchdown in his career.
Core, 25, a 2016 sixth-round pick out of Mississippi, never was much a factor on offense in his three years with the Bengals. He had only 30 receptions for 360 yards and one touchdown. The 6-foot-3 Core was a member of every special teams unit, logging 462 snaps on special teams the past three years. Core was a college teammate of tight end Evan Engram.
Smith, 23, is a developmental offensive tackle who went undrafted out of Virginia, where he started 32 games at right tackle. The 6-4, 308-pound Smith spent time with the Dolphins and on the Patriots’ practice squad. He most recently was with the Jets, played in all four preseason games but did not make it out of their final cuts.Outside linebacker Avery Moss, a 2017 fifth-round pick who did not make the cut with the Giants, was claimed by the Dolphins.
The Giants brought back eight players they recently cut for their practice squad: DL Chris Slayton (a 2019 seventh round draft pick), OL Evan Brown, LB Josiah Tauaefa, WR Reggie White Jr., RB John Hilliman, DL Freedom Akinmoladun, LB Jake Carlock and TE C.J. Conrad. They also might add CB Corn Elder, cut by the Panthers. They have one spot remaining on the 10-man practice squad.