Braxton Berrios is finally on the Giants’ 53-man roster, but the bigger question is whether that move means anything for the offense.
New York signed him off the practice squad Tuesday after burning through the available standard elevations, and it happened the same day the team released Odell Beckham Jr. That at least settles Berrios into a real roster spot instead of the weekly shuffle that had him waiting for a call-up.
What it does not guarantee is work on offense. Berrios has appeared in three games this season and still hasn’t caught a pass.
His value has been clear in the return game, where keeping a dependable returner active makes sense. But the Giants’ passing game has not found the end zone with Jameis Winston yet, and there’s a case for seeing whether Berrios can supply a few easy completions from the slot.
That does not mean turning the offense over to him. A quick out, a shallow cross or a designed touch could be enough to force Arizona’s linebackers to account for something beyond the run.
Those are standard slot-receiver plays, not some sweeping fix. Still, if Berrios can turn three touches into a few drive-sustaining gains, that’s useful football.
The Giants have already made a larger investment in their pass-catching mix. Isaiah Likely’s arrival gives the offense another target, while Cam Skattebo remains the center of the ground game.
Berrios can fit into that setup without cutting into either role. The real issue is whether the staff views him as more than a return specialist.
He has done enough to stick on the roster. Now he needs snaps that actually put the ball in his hands. After four field goals against Tennessee, the Giants should be open to trying something small before asking Winston to carry the whole thing with tough throws.
Arizona looks like the right place to test it. One carefully drawn series would tell the Giants more about Berrios’ offensive value than another week of watching him stand on the sideline.
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