Giants Waive TE Garrett Dickerson, Promote LB Devante Downs from Practice Squad

Dickerson was a seldom-used tight end who fell behind waiver wire pickup Kaden Smith on the depth chart.

The Giants waived tight end Garrett Dickerson, a seldom-used player on the roster, and have promoted linebacker Devante Downs from their practice squad.

Dickerson, 6-foot-3, 252 pounds, was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent on June 2018 out of Northwestern, after having impressed in the team's rookie minicamp that year. 

He spent most of 2018 on the Giants practice squad but did receive a few promotions to the active roster, the first time coming on September 25 and then again November 26.

Dickerson spent part of this year's training camp dealing with a quad injury that cost him the first two games of the 2019 season. (He was a healthy scratch for Week 3, as well).

Dickerson was finally part of the active roster in Week 4, spending that week and the ensuing one as a special teams contributor. In Week 6, with Evan Engram inactive due to a knee injury, Dickerson received snaps on offense.

All together, Dickerson played in seven games over his short two-year career with the Giants but did not record a reception. He was passe don the team's depth chart by Kaden Smith, a rookie tight end the Giants were awarded off waivers at the start of the season from the 49ers.

Downs, 6-foot-2, 252 pounds, was a seventh-round pick (No. 225 overall) of the Vikings in last year's draft. He appeared in 11 games for them as a rookie, recording three tackles, two of which were solo efforts.

He was waived earlier this season by the Vikings, as part of their roster cuts to get from 90 men to 53. He was signed to their practice squad the next day. He then was promoted to the active roster on September 14, 2019, but was waived ten days later. 

An inside linebacker who played his college ball at California, Downs recorded 211 total tackles, including 14.5 tackles for a loss. He also logged 8.0 sacks, five interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), two pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

Head coach Pat Shurmur told reporters Monday that edge Lorenzo Carter injured his ankle in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals; however, it's unclear if the decision to promote Downs from the practice squad to the 53-man roster is related to Carter's injury.