The New York Giants might be buried at 2-11, but that doesn’t mean they’re done making moves. With a roster that’s been through its fair share of turbulence this season, general manager Joe Schoen has dipped back into a familiar well, bringing defensive tackle Casey Rogers back into the fold.
Rogers, 26, is returning to East Rutherford after spending the 2025 season largely out of football. The former Oregon Duck originally joined the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2024, spending most of his rookie year on the practice squad.
He was briefly elevated to the active roster late last season, then waived and re-signed to the practice squad before the year wrapped up. Now, after a short stint with the Buffalo Bills this past summer and a surprising detour into professional lacrosse with the Rochester Knighthawks, Rogers is back where his NFL journey began.
This reunion comes on the heels of the Giants losing defensive tackle Jordon Riley to the Green Bay Packers, opening a spot on the practice squad. While the move may not shake up the depth chart, it’s another example of Schoen continuing to churn the bottom of the roster - a necessary process, even in a season that’s long since gone off the rails.
Let’s be clear: Rogers isn’t being brought in to fix the Giants’ defense. Through two career games, he hasn’t registered a stat - not a tackle, not a QB hit.
But he did make a splash in his debut last year, blocking a 60-yard field goal attempt against the Saints. That kind of special teams play doesn’t go unnoticed, especially on a team that’s looking for any spark it can find.
Still, with the Giants owning the league’s worst run defense and interim head coach Mike Kafka trying to stabilize things under new defensive coordinator Charlie Bullen, it’s unlikely Rogers sees meaningful snaps. This signing is more about organizational depth and keeping the developmental pipeline moving than it is about immediate impact.
For Rogers, though, it’s another chance to prove he belongs. The NFL is full of stories like his - players bouncing between practice squads, fighting for a foothold, and making the most of every opportunity. If nothing else, the Giants are giving him that shot.
And if it doesn’t stick? Well, Rogers has already shown he’s got options beyond football.
Not many NFL defensive tackles can say they’ve also competed in the National Lacrosse League. That’s a unique two-sport path, and it speaks to the kind of athleticism and drive that teams are always looking for at the margins of a roster.
So while this move might not shift the Giants’ fortunes in the short term, it’s another small piece in the larger puzzle of roster building. And for a team that’s trying to find its way back to relevance, every piece - no matter how minor - still matters.