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Giants sign punt returner Gunner Olszewski, RB Jashaun Corbin coming back from Panthers

Pat Leonard, New York Daily News
·2 min read

The Giants made a couple of urgent moves Monday to address their poor punt return depth chart and their injury-filled backfield.

They signed free agent punt returner Gunner Olszewski to the practice squad after a workout, and they brought Jashaun Corbin back from the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad, according to sources.

The Giants worked out three returners, including former Saint Marquez Callaway and former Jet/Patriot T.J. Luther.

But Olszewski, 26, the 2020 first-team All-Pro in New England, won the job and likely the duty of handling returns against the Jets Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

Corbin, 23, meanwhile, was a logical signing based on the Giants’ numerous running back injuries and his familiarity with the offense that will allow him to contribute immediately.

Gary Brightwell (hamstring) and rookie Eric Gray (calf) both left Sunday’s win over Washington with injuries in the first half. And Saquon Barkley dislocated his left elbow, although he played through it. That left Matt Breida as the only healthy back on the roster Monday morning.

Corbin had a strong training camp with the Giants before his release and presumably will step in to help right away, similar to how the Giants re-signed tackle Tyre Phillips off the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad last week to plug him in as their right tackle on Sunday.

Olszewski is an interesting choice for the Giants’ punt returner, despite his pedigree, considering his recent play in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers released him because he played in two games this season and lost a fumble in both of them: one as a receiver on offense against the Browns in Week 2, and a second on a muffed punt against the Ravens in Week 5.

But these are desperate times for the Giants, who used Gray, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton all on punt returns on Sunday. Gray muffed a punt that Nick McCloud recovered, and Shepard muffed a punt that Washington picked up to set up their only touchdown of the game.