Giants' 53-Man Roster Projection: Tracy, Alexander Face Tough Calls as Cut Deadline Looms

As the NFL's final roster cutdown approaches, the New York Giants are confronting difficult decisions on a handful of players whose preseason performances have raised questions. Teams must trim their rosters to 53 players by August 30 at 6 p.m. EST, and the Giants' brain trust is weighing the value of recent draft picks against on-field results.

Harbaugh: Tracy's Mistakes Don't Erase His Body of Work

Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. has had a rough couple of weeks, committing a significant mistake in each of the first two preseason games. In the opener against the Vikings, Tracy whiffed on a blitz pickup, allowing safety Jay Ward to hit quarterback Jaxson Dart. Against the Dolphins, he lost the handle on a wet ball inside Miami's 10-yard line, and the Dolphins recovered.

Head coach John Harbaugh, however, is not ready to give up on the third-year back.

"I don't think you say, hey, a bad play or even two bad plays nullifies a whole career body of work, so to speak," Harbaugh said Sunday. "Even in the game, he played well. He had numerous good runs, catches, pass protection pickups were good. But he had the one play that's the one thing you don't want to have as a running back."

Harbaugh added that Tracy feels worse about the mistakes than anyone.

"Nobody feels worse about it than he does," Harbaugh said. "He's a very conscientious, very determined guy. It matters a lot to him, so he's beating himself up. But the rest of the plays were all good. They were all pluses."

Still, the coach acknowledged the balancing act.

"You can't let your emotions get involved, and you've got to try to take everything in perspective," Harbaugh said. "Perspective of the player, the perspective of the big picture of the room, what you need in the room, and what's best for the team."

Harbaugh said the decision is ongoing.

"It's an ongoing pecking order. It's ongoing right now," he said. "It's still to be determined over the course of the next week to see exactly where it shakes out."

Tracy Faces Uphill Climb in Crowded Backfield

Tracy, who is seeking his third straight season with 1,000-plus yards from scrimmage, faces long odds to stick on the roster. The Giants' running back depth chart includes Cam Skattebo, Devin Singletary, and newly signed veteran Najee Harris ahead of him, according to multiple reports. Singletary had a strong showing in the win over Miami.

Tracy, a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has shown playmaking ability in the past, but the two recent miscues have put his spot in jeopardy. Some observers have speculated he could be on the trade market, though that remains speculative.

Alexander Struggles in Preseason, Roster Spot in Question

Defensive lineman Darius Alexander, the 65th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was expected to fill a major hole on the interior of the defensive line after the departure of Dexter Lawrence. But his preseason performances have raised doubts.

According to Matt Sidney of GMENHQ, Alexander has failed to impress and has been one of the Giants' worst players through the first two preseason games. Sidney noted that Alexander finished his second preseason game with a dismal 39.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, including a brutal 46.7 run-defense grade. In the preseason opener against the Vikings, he posted a 43.8 run-defense grade.

The Giants have veteran defensive linemen D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris, whom they can trust, and sixth-round pick Bobby Jamison-Travis has made a case for a roster spot after recording a sack in limited reps against the Dolphins.

Whether the Giants keep Alexander, drafted by former general manager Joe Schoen, remains unclear.

Other Roster Notes

The Giants defeated the Dolphins 26-3 in their most recent preseason game. Quarterback Jameis Winston completed 15-of-21 passes for 150 yards with a touchdown run in the first half. The team's projected quarterback starter is Jaxson Dart, with Winston as his backup.

Other projected roster highlights from a 53-man projection published Aug. 23 include:

  • Wide receivers: Starters Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, and Malachi Fields, with backups including Odell Beckham Jr.
  • Tight ends: Starters Isaiah Likely, Theo Johnson, and Patrick Ricard, with backup Chris Manhertz.
  • Offensive line: Starters Andrew Thomas, Jon Runyan, John Michael Schmitz, Sisi Mauigoa, and Jermaine Eluemunor, with J.C. Davis as a backup. Davis, a sixth-round pick, played all 81 snaps at left tackle in the Dolphins game.
  • Defensive line: Starters D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris, and Chauncey Golston, with backups Darius Alexander, Bobby Jamison-Travis, and Leki Fotu. Questions remain about Alexander's ability against the run.
  • Other defensive positions: Outside linebacker starters Brian Burns and Abdul Carter; inside linebacker starters Tremaine Edmunds and Arvelle Reese; cornerback starters Paulson Adebo and Greg Newsome; safety starters Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin.
  • Specialists: Jordan Stout, Dominic Zvada, and Ben Mann. Zvada made his first two field goals in his first game Saturday.

Injury Updates

  • Malik Nabers continues to recover from ACL surgery and may shed his red no-contact jersey this week.
  • Colton Hood is returning to practice after a quad injury.
  • Sisi Mauigoa is returning to practice after a stinger.
  • Josh Ezeudu's status is up in the air after being rolled up on late in the Dolphins game.
  • Turbo Miller is on injured reserve after being waived with an injury designation.

Harbaugh emphasized that the team is focused on execution as it prepares for Week 1 against the Cowboys.

"We're chasing execution," Harbaugh said. "We're at a stage now, we're getting ready for the games. We're not here to practice. It's not a training camp exercise. We're here to prepare for the games that we're going to play."

The Giants close out the preseason Friday against the Jets before the final roster is set.