The Giants may have stumbled into a small opening for Thomas Fidone II.
Chris Manhertz was added to the injury report Thursday because of a calf injury and did not practice. Theo Johnson also stayed limited with a neck issue, while Fidone was a full participant for the second straight day.
That doesn’t mean Fidone is suddenly the answer to everything at tight end. But it does create a path for the Giants to give him a limited role in the game plan for Houston, rather than asking him to absorb the whole load if others can’t go.
Even with the full practice work, Fidone wasn’t listed as completely clean on the latest report, which showed a shoulder issue. So this is not a case of an injury-free player being handed a job. It’s more a matter of availability and opportunity: he has been able to do the work while the two tight ends ahead of him have not.
There’s a reason to at least test him in a small way.
Fidone has appeared in two games and started one in 2026, and he has not caught a pass. Across his first two NFL seasons, he has nine appearances and still no receptions. That’s not the kind of résumé that says he’s already ready for a big offensive role.
But there is something to work with. At Nebraska, he posted 61 catches for 633 yards and four touchdowns. College numbers don’t guarantee anything at this level, but they give the Giants more reason to see whether he can handle a defined receiving task instead of treating him as only a last-resort name.
The cleanest approach would be simple: a short outlet, a clearly defined route, and a package built around the protection the Giants trust. That would let J.J. McCarthy have another usable target without forcing a lightly used tight end into a much bigger job than he’s had before.
The depth chart lists Fidone fourth at tight end, behind Isaiah Likely, Johnson and Manhertz. That helps explain why he could get a shot if injuries stack up. It does not mean he can replace Manhertz’s blocking work or that moving him up the pecking order automatically makes the offense better.
There are other routes, too. The Giants could lean more on Likely or turn to more receiver personnel, depending on who’s available and which responsibilities the staff feels good about. This isn’t about taking work away from the top tight end just to reward a younger player.
It’s about dividing the jobs correctly. If the blocking piece needs a different answer, find it. If Fidone can handle a small receiving package without the rest of the offense taking a hit, then there’s value in finding that out now.
Nothing has been announced yet on promotion, snap share or play calls. The final call depends on the health of the room and what the Giants uncover in preparation.
But a second-year tight end with no career catch won’t become any easier to judge if he stays buried as nothing more than an emergency option. A small chance could tell New York whether there’s something worth building on.
In Other News...
Giants Are Betting Big On A QB Trait Winston Couldnt Offer
J.J. McCarthy arrived in New York with the kind of arm talent that can change the feel of an offense before he even takes a snap. After a difficult run with the Vikings, he has landed with the Giants, and the early word from teammates and people around him is that the deep ball is the trait that stands out most. Even after some statistical issues on throws downfield last season, McCarthys physical gifts give New York a different kind of passing threat than it had before.
For a Giants offense that has been looking for ways to stress defenses beyond the short game, that matters. McCarthys arm strength and athletic ability open doors the team simply did not have with Jameis Winston, and the staff is weighing how much of that can be built into the plan. The next question is how far the Giants are willing to go in leaning into those possibilities, especially if they want to make the most of what McCarthy can do outside the pocket. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Backfield Suddenly Feels Like A Problem They Can't Ignore
With the Giants trying to steady themselves before a matchup with the Texans, the problems are piling up in every phase, from penalties to the broader offensive unease that has followed J.J. McCarthy into his first start. John Harbaugh and Matt Nagy have already talked about making adjustments, and the backfield is part of that conversation now, especially with Cam Skattebo set to rejoin the mix after working through the issues that pushed him to take a hard look at his approach.
The timing matters because this is no longer just about cleaning up a depth chart or getting through one game. The Giants are weighing whether the current group is enough to stabilize a sputtering offense, and league chatter is starting to connect their running back situation to bigger possibilities as the Nov. 10 deadline approaches. For a team already searching for answers, the next move at that spot could say a lot about how urgently they see the problem. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Are Suddenly Tied To Two Rising Defenders Fans Should Watch
The Giants draft radar is starting to sharpen on the defensive side, with the latest look at college prospects pointing to a couple of ascending names worth monitoring as the evaluation process rolls on. The focus has stretched across safety, defensive tackle and even running back, but the most interesting early fits for New York come from players who could help modernize the defense with range, versatility and interior disruption.
One of the more intriguing options is LSU safety Ty Benefield, whose hybrid safety-slot skill set is the kind of flexible profile teams covet when they want multiple answers in the secondary. Tennessee defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam is also climbing quickly, and the buzz around him suggests he could be in the conversation as the first player at his position selected. For a Giants team always weighing how to add speed and toughness to the front and back ends of the defense, both names are the sort that can move from background chatter to real draft-board discussion fast. [Read more 🡒]