If anyone can figure out the method of Joe Schoen’s practice squad/roster transaction madness, please speak up. This is a New York Giants football team that’s 0‑2, already facing another lost season, and they’re making moves that will do nothing to solve said conundrum — no offense to LaMareon James.
The Giants released cornerback Dee Williams and replaced him with James, who was cut by the Browns earlier this week. Williams made one appearance for New York last year after joining from Seattle and played mostly on special teams. James brings more upside on paper — 24 pass breakups, three picks, and 1,346 kickoff return yards in college — but there’s little reason to think the move remotely shifts anything short-term.
The undrafted rookie hasn’t played in either of the Browns’ first two games. The practice squad CB depth chart is thin: James joins safety Raheem Layne, and a revolving door of defensive backs shuffling in and out. Meanwhile, injuries on defense (especially linebacker depth) loom large heading into the Chiefs' game. So naturally, Joe Schoen signed a specialist who moonlights as a cornerback.
Giants’ CB shuffle does nothing to change Week 3 or the season outlook
Signing the 24‑year‑old won’t raise eyebrows, and it certainly won’t change anything for Week 3. Practice‑squad additions don’t win primetime games.
Big Blue is short on functional depth in the secondary, but let’s be clear, James isn’t here to fix that on Sunday night. He’s a practice‑squad flier, nothing more. Converting college tape to real snaps against Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce isn’t even the conversation right now because he won’t be on the field. This move doesn’t really address anything. And that’s the problem.
So let’s not kid ourselves, this isn’t a team that needs more fliers. The linebacker room is running on fumes, the safeties are struggling hard, and adding a potentially developmental corner to the practice squad does nothing to change that. The Giants don’t need long shots — they need players who can help them win games right now.
By all means, here’s hoping James becomes something. But at 0‑2, with the Chiefs coming to town, signing LaMareon James doesn’t feel like a transaction that'll help this team move forward. If there’s any silver lining, it’s that at least Schoen didn’t sign another kick returner... oh, wait.