Training camp tends to result in some pretty gnarly roster casualties, but this one stings for fans who were rooting for a good underdog story. The New York Giants announced on Monday that they released defensive tackle Sam Roberts.
The #Giants signed DB JT Woods and released DT Sam Roberts.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) August 10, 2026
The move came after they brought in defensive back J.T. Woods to add some secondary depth following Dru Phillips' ongoing knee issues and the release of Jarrick Bernard-Converse. But it means saying goodbye to a player many expected... err, hoped would make an impact this offseason.
When Big Blue signed Roberts to a one-year, $1.25 million deal back in March, there was a lot of talk surrounding the 28-year-old potentially being a sleeper signing. After all, he had good size (6-foot-5, 300 pounds) and the underdog mentality of a small-school superstar (three-time all-conference player at Missouri State) who was waiting for the right opportunity to shine.
His release is a harsh reminder that in the NFL, missing a few weeks at the wrong time can be the difference between carving out a role and looking for your next oppprtunity.
Sam Roberts’ Giants story ended before it ever started
The intrigue around Roberts came from the flashes he showed on tape last year.
During a five-game stint with the Atlanta Falcons, the former Division II Cliff Harris Award winner (the nation's top small-college defensive player) showed he could, at the very least, be a solid depth option. He finished with 18 tackles and even had a sack against Bills star quarterback Josh Allen.
In limited snaps, Pro Football Focus backed it up, giving him an 83.0 overall grade.
Before he caught on with the Dirty Birds, Roberts was drafted in the sixth round by the New England Patriots in 2022. He spent two seasons in Foxborough before bouncing through stops with the Bears and Panthers.
His late-season surge was exactly why New York took a chance on him. With the team still trying to figure out the defensive line after trading Dexter Lawrence II to the Cincinnati Bengals, there was an opportunity to carve out a rotational role.
Ultimately, his body betrayed him at the worst possible time. Roberts underwent undisclosed offseason surgery that forced him to miss OTAs and minicamp and set him back entering camp.
By the time the Giants reported to training camp in West Virginia, Roberts was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. The team activated him on July 28, but by then, his shot with the G-Men was already all but over.
Roberts follows undrafted rookie Ben Barten, who was also released during training camp to make room for defensive backs D.J. James and David Long. It's obvious that after general manager Joe Schoen went on a defensive lineman spending spree earlier in the offseason, there aren't enough snaps to go around for the back-end guys to prove they deserve a spot. So, might as well give it to someone who could crack the 53-man roster, right?
With injuries mounting in the secondary, Schoen had to find a roster spot to sacrifice. A hobbled Roberts ultimately became said casualty. While his breakout with the G-Men will likely never happen, his time with the Falcons could earn him another shot with a defensive line-needy team.
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