Colton Hood gave the Giants a much-needed step forward on Thursday, but not the final answer they’re still waiting for.
The rookie cornerback went from limited Wednesday to a full participant in practice, a notable shift for a New York secondary still sorting through injuries. At the same time, Greg Newsome II stayed out for a second straight day, leaving the Giants with one more question than they’d like in the defensive backfield.
That said, practice status only tells part of the story. Hood’s full workload is a clear improvement, but it does not automatically mean he’s cleared to play against the Texans or guaranteed a spot on Sunday’s game-day roster. New York had not released Friday’s designations when this article was prepared, so the final call on his availability was still pending.
The cornerback picture around him is just as layered. Hood sits behind Newsome on the Giants’ depth chart at one outside corner spot, which makes his practice progress especially relevant while Newsome remains sidelined. Hood has played in five games and made two starts, according to his NFL player record.
Paulson Adebo is part of the same larger mix, but his situation is different. The Giants designated him to return from injured reserve on Wednesday, which opened his practice window. He was still limited Thursday with a knee injury, though, and that’s a separate step from being activated to the roster.
Those distinctions matter because they keep the situation from being oversold. Hood improved, Newsome did not practice, and Adebo is still working through the return process. Each one is moving on a different track, and none of those developments should be treated as the same thing.
The Texans also present another wrinkle. The Giants’ weekly tracker said Houston coach DeMeco Ryans expects Tank Dell to return Sunday after his lengthy recovery from a serious knee injury. His expected return adds another name for New York to prepare for, even though his role and any direct matchup with Hood are still unsettled.
For the Giants, the encouraging part is simple: Hood’s status moved in the right direction. What still matters most is the final injury report, any activation announcement, and the game-day roster. Until then, Thursday’s update is positive news - just not the full green light.
In Other News...
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Giants Secondary Just Took Another Hit At The Worst Time
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Paulson Adebo was activated from injured reserve, which gives the group a needed boost, but there is still plenty of uncertainty around the back end. Greg Newsome II remains out with a concussion, and the Giants also moved Tremaine Edmunds to injured reserve while elevating safety Raheem Layne from the practice squad, another sign that the team is trying to patch together enough reliable bodies for the week ahead. [Read more 🡒]