Giants Signing Edge Rusher Jihad Ward Off Vikings Practice Squad, Report Says
Ward played two seasons for the Giants and spent 2025 in Tennessee under Dennard Wilson, now the Giants' defensive coordinator. The Giants released defensive lineman Josh Tupou on Wednesday.
The Giants are signing edge rusher Jihad Ward off the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad, ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported Wednesday. The team had not announced the signing as of 6:30 p.m. EDT.
The Giants also released defensive lineman Josh Tupou on Wednesday. Tupou was promoted from the practice squad Sept. 16 and appeared in two games.
The Giants placed outside linebacker Brian Burns on injured reserve Tuesday. Coach John Harbaugh said Monday that Burns tore his ACL in the 12-7 win over the Tennessee Titans and will have surgery.
Ward played 34 games for the Giants in 2022 and 2023 and had eight sacks. He spent 2025 with Tennessee and had five sacks in 17 games. Dennard Wilson, the Titans' defensive coordinator in 2024 and 2025, is in his first season in that job with the Giants. Ward also played for Harbaugh in Baltimore in 2019 and 2020.
In a separate move Wednesday, the Giants re-signed quarterback Jake Haener to the practice squad.
The Giants (2-1) host the Arizona Cardinals (1-2) at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday.