Braxton Berrios Expected Back on Giants' Roster by Week 1
Berrios, released Sunday as a vested veteran, is expected to return through a practice-squad elevation rather than a trade or a corresponding roster cut, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.
Braxton Berrios is expected to be active for the Giants' Sept. 13 season opener against Dallas, days after the team released him in its roster cutdown to 53 players, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday.
The Giants released Berrios, their top punt returner, Sunday as part of the cutdown to the initial 53-man roster. Schefter reported the team plans to bring him back for the opener, either by re-signing him to the 53-man roster once other moves are made, or by signing him to the practice squad and elevating him for the game.
Berrios can return without going through waivers. The Giants' Aug. 30 transaction list, via Big Blue Interactive, lists his release as "Contract Terminated (Vested Veteran)," not "Waived." A vested veteran — a player with four or more accrued NFL seasons — becomes a free agent immediately upon release and can sign with any team, including the one that released him, without another club getting a chance to claim him first.
Under NFL rules, a team can elevate a practice-squad player to the active roster for a single game up to three times a season without signing him to the 53-man roster; a fourth elevation requires an actual roster signing. The elevation does not require clearing waivers or opening a 53-man roster spot, and the player reverts to the practice squad automatically after the game.
As of Sunday morning, the Giants had not announced any practice-squad signings, according to Yahoo Sports' practice-squad tracker. No re-signing, elevation or other roster move involving Berrios had been reported as of that check.
The Giants must set their practice squad in the coming days. The season opener against Dallas is Sept. 13.