Giants Reportedly Release Jihad Ward After Two-Game Return

3 hours ago

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Anonymous veteran edge defender walking out of a blue football stadium tunnel after a roster move — Original Football Nation USA illustration.

The New York Giants are reportedly moving on from veteran edge defender Jihad Ward less than three weeks after bringing him back. NFL.com listed Ward among Tuesday's roster cuts, citing NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, while NBC Sports also reported the release. The Giants had not yet posted the transaction on their official roster-move page when this article was prepared.

The move ends a short second stint in New York. The Giants signed Ward from the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad on October 1 after Brian Burns suffered a torn ACL and went to injured reserve. Ward appeared in two games during the reunion, but his role remained limited behind the primary edge defenders.

Why the Giants signed Ward

Ward was a logical emergency addition because he already knew the organization and had produced in a previous Giants stint. Across the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he played 34 games with 20 starts and recorded 67 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks, 22 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and four passes defensed, according to the team.

New York needed experience after losing Burns, and Ward offered enough size and versatility to line up on the edge or reduce inside in heavier fronts. His signing was always more about stabilizing the rotation than replacing Burns' production one for one.

Why Ward's release is notable

The Giants' current depth chart listed Ward behind Kayvon Thibodeaux at the RUSH position. That confirms he was a reserve rather than a defensive centerpiece, so the immediate statistical loss is modest. The timing is still meaningful because New York is removing veteran depth from a position that already lost Burns for the season.

The decision could precede a corresponding roster addition, but no replacement had been announced when this story was prepared. It would be premature to assume that one young player has won Ward's snaps. The next transaction and the Week 7 depth chart will show whether the Giants promote from the practice squad, sign another veteran or simply tighten the rotation.

Week 7 impact against Houston

New York visits the Houston Texans on Sunday, October 25, at 1 p.m. ET. Houston has won two straight and scored 60 total points across those victories, increasing the pressure on the Giants to create disruption without exposing an already stressed defense.

Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter remain the important names for the pass rush. Ward's departure may create a few additional rotational snaps around them, but it does not automatically mean either starter will play every down. The bigger question is how New York manages early-down edge responsibilities and keeps its best rushers fresh for obvious passing situations.

For Houston, the move is a small positive rather than a matchup-changing event. Removing an experienced rotational defender can help the Texans' offensive tackles over the course of a game, but Ward had not established enough of a 2026 role to materially change projections for C.J. Stroud or Houston's skill players by himself.

Fantasy football and IDP impact

Ward can be dropped in IDP leagues. He did not have a dependable snap share or weekly tackle floor during this Giants stint, and a released rotational defender should not occupy a roster spot while his next destination is unknown.

Thibodeaux and Carter remain the only Giants edge players with clear fantasy relevance. Managers should not project a major bump solely from Ward's release, but Wednesday's practice participation and New York's corresponding roster move could clarify whether their workloads are likely to rise.

The Giants D/ST remains a matchup-dependent option rather than a priority Week 7 start. Houston's recent scoring improvement lowers the floor, and the loss of another experienced edge body adds one more reason to avoid treating New York as a set-and-forget unit.

What to watch next

First, watch for the Giants' official transaction notice. Second, identify the corresponding addition to the 53-man roster. Third, check whether New York elevates an edge defender from the practice squad before Sunday. Those moves will reveal far more about the Week 7 rotation than Ward's release alone.

For now, the supported takeaway is straightforward: Ward's reported release removes a reserve veteran, leaves the Giants thinner behind Thibodeaux and Carter, and creates a roster opening that still needs an official answer.