Is Braxton Berrios going on injured reserve or not? It apparently depends on who you ask.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that the New York Giants are placing their special teams ace on IR after he suffered a foot injury in Sunday’s 36-24 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Not long after, head coach John Harbaugh told reporters that no decision had been made yet, although he acknowledged that Berrios twisted up his foot and ankle on a second-quarter punt return.
Whether it ends up being four weeks or something shorter, the Giants could be without their special teams ace for a bit. Fortunately, a weird chain of roster moves involving Odell Beckham Jr. and the Cincinnati Bengals might’ve already given them the answer.
Charlie Jones’ path to the Giants is incredibly well-timed
Cincinnati released the former fourth-round pick during final roster cuts this summer, and the G-Men wasted little time scooping him up and adding him to a P-Squad alongside Berrios.
Then things started to get weird.
The Bengals reportedly came calling again. Jones said that Cincy wanted him back, but the 27-year-old preferred to stay in North Jersey because he hoped it could eventually lead to a bigger opportunity as a receiver.
Well, he didn’t have to wait long for his wish to come true. Odell Beckham Jr.'s release and Brian Burns heading to IR opened up two spots on the 53-man roster, and the Giants used one of them to keep Jones on the team. He and Berrios were both promoted to the active roster on Sept. 29. And less than a week later, the G-Men needed him to step up in their Week 4 game against the Cardinals.
Berrios got his foot and ankle rolled up on during a punt return and couldn’t return to the game. Jones took over from there, returning two punts for 29 yards and three kickoffs for another 69.
Harbs was asked on Monday who the G-Men would turn to with Berrios hurt, and it doesn’t sound like the Giants are in any rush to bring someone else in.
“Sometimes the best stones are under your feet,” Harbs told reporters, adding that New York would look internally first at players who have already been practicing with the team.
Jones feels like one of the first stones they’ll pick up.
The former Purdue star has made most of his living in the third phase, but there could definitely be some receiving opportunities available for him, too. Big Blue isn’t exactly deep at receiver, with Malik Nabers, Darnell Mooney, and Malachi Fields as the only three on the depth chart, and it’s not like Jones hasn't shown he can catch the football. His final college season was ridiculous: 110 catches for 1,361 yards and 12 touchdowns.
They say timing is everything. Jones stayed in New York hoping for a bigger opportunity, and with Berrios injured and only three other receivers on the depth chart, he might be getting one a whole lot sooner than expected.
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