One team’s practice-squad afterthought is another team’s playoff depth piece. And for Jordon Riley, the now-former New York Giants defensive lineman, that shift finally came this week.
After spending the entire season buried on New York’s practice squad, the third-year defensive lineman just landed the kind of break that players in his spot almost never get this late in the season: He’s headed to a contender.
As reported by Giants insider Art Stapleton, the Green Bay Packers signed Riley off Big Blue's practice squad and onto their 53-man roster. That’s a massive upgrade from trying to fight for crumbs on a 2-11 team that has no direction. Instead, Riley now gets to walk into a playoff push with an organization that actually wants him. Funny how quickly fortunes can turn in this league.
For the G-Men, Riley was a developmental project they couldn't solve. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 Draft, and aside from having a massive frame, he hasn't offered much else.
He spent two years working behind Dexter Lawrence, never found a real role, and became another casualty of a defensive line rotation that has yet to do much of anything. Still, losing him now stings more than it probably should, considering their depth issues, ineptitude, and Lawrence’s ongoing elbow situation.
Jordon Riley gets real opportunity while Giants take another hit up front
Green Bay had a hole to fill after Devonte Wyatt went down for the year with an ankle injury, and the 27-year-old fit the profile of what they were looking for -- a big body who can occupy space. There's definitely a path to playing time. That was never going to happen in East Rutherford.
In total, Riley played 21 games with five starts across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He logged 20 tackles, four tackles for loss, and one quarterback hit.
This is about as good as it gets for the former Oregon Duck. Lately, anyone who leaves the Giants seems to figure things out the second they land somewhere else. Cory Durden is the latest example, turning his shot with the New England Patriots into a season that might just save his career. Maybe Riley can follow that path.
Honestly, good for Riley. Way to get out of the dumpster fire. He waited, stayed patient, and now gets to jump from a miserable season to a playoff run. Hard to knock him for that.