The Giants cleared two roster spots right before training camp, waiving linebacker Cam Jones and defensive tackle C.J. Ravenell, and the timing feels more important than the names attached to it.
Jones appeared in 10 games last season and was almost entirely a special teams piece. Ravenell had only been around for a few weeks after a waiver claim and was later given a non-football injury designation. Neither move shakes up the top of the roster, but both create room at a moment when the Giants can still tweak the bottom of the depth chart.
That’s the part worth watching. Training camp begins Wednesday, and teams usually don’t bother carrying players they don’t expect to compete.
Jones dealt with an injury issue during minicamp, while Ravenell never really got enough time to establish himself. So the Giants now have two openings and a little flexibility to chase a player who better fits a need that wasn’t solved in the spring.
The most obvious targets would be another receiver, offensive line help, or an interior defender who can take early camp reps. The Giants have already put plenty of work into the skill positions, but they still need bodies who can hold up through the daily wear of practice and help on special teams.
This may end up looking like ordinary summer roster churn. Sometimes that’s all it is. But these are also the kinds of moves teams make when they have a workout or waiver claim in mind and believe it could matter.
And once camp gets rolling, the back half of the roster will sort itself out. The Giants are already heavy with players who should make the team if they stay healthy. The final spots will come down to special teams value, positional versatility, and whether someone can contribute right away without a long runway.
For now, the two open spots give the Giants a little more room to find somebody who can help in September instead of just filling out the July roster.
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