Giants Sign Najee Harris, Release JuJu Smith-Schuster

The New York Giants signed free agent running back Najee Harris to a one-year deal Tuesday, the team announced. In a corresponding move, they released wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who had struggled with a knee injury through training camp.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo first reported the signing at 12:09 p.m. ET. ESPN's Jordan Raanan confirmed it about an hour later, citing the team's own announcement. ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the Smith-Schuster release at 2:23 p.m. ET, and the team's announcement followed by mid-afternoon.

The Giants also waived running back Dante Miller with an injury designation. Miller hurt his groin in the team's preseason opener against the Vikings and is expected to miss time, ESPN reported.

Financial terms of Harris's deal were not disclosed. Harris, 28, is 6-foot-1 and 242 pounds, according to Pro Football Reference. The Steelers made him a first-round pick, 24th overall, out of Alabama in 2021, and he rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons in Pittsburgh. The Steelers did not exercise his fifth-year option, and he signed with the Chargers in free agency in March 2025, per CBS Sports. He tore his Achilles tendon in Week 3 of last season against Denver, ending his year after three games, 15 carries and 61 yards. Harris worked out for the Giants on Monday and passed his physical before signing.

Giants coach John Harbaugh evaluated Harris after Monday's workout.

Harbaugh said: "Yeah, I felt like the hair on the back of my neck stood up when I saw him over there, you know? He's a big dude. So, yes, he's coming back from the Achilles injury he had with my brother [Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh]. And he looks good in the workout. You know, he's not back 100%. He's not in football shape yet. So, if we are able to do something, it'll be a process. But that would be a guy that has got a lot of experience. He's a decorated vet. And with those guys, generally, you just have to kind of see where they're at when you get them. And sometimes it works out great. Sometimes it's just okay, and other times it doesn't work out. But based on the workout, I would say we feel like he's got a shot. We'll just have to see how it goes."

Harris said he is not yet in football shape.

Harris said: "Am I fully in football shape? No, I just got my pads today. There's a difference between getting in shape and in football shape because it's hard to replicate pads in the offseason other than just putting it on and going out there and work. So, can I go out there and run some plays? Of course I can. But am I where I want to be, like (where) Najee wants to be at? No, probably not. It's not going to take a long time. It doesn't take a long time for me to get in shape. I take that seriously. I'm committed to that."

He said he sees a scheme fit in Harbaugh's offense. "I think this is a good opportunity here," Harris said. "I think the style of play that they're heading towards is the style of play that aligns with me. I know the type of style of football he wants. I think that we align with each other with what type of football we want to play."

Harris joins a backfield already carrying Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary. Skattebo, a 2025 fourth-round pick, is still working back from a dislocated ankle, an open tibia fracture and a ruptured deltoid ligament suffered in Week 8 last season, according to CBS Sports. He had four carries for 19 yards in the Aug. 15 preseason opener against Minnesota. Harbaugh, speaking Aug. 17, said Skattebo is not yet at full speed.

Harbaugh said: "I got to see him for the first time in a game — and I don't think he's 100%, he would say he's not. But I got to see what you know about him already. I saw the foot quickness, the feel for the game, the explosiveness. It was good to watch, and good for me to see that."

Tracy has led the Giants in carries in each of the last two seasons, per CBS Sports. In the preseason opener, Skattebo played five of the Giants' 12 early-down snaps, with Tracy and Singletary also rotating in, according to PFF. The Giants averaged 2.7 yards per carry in that game, and Tracy missed a pass-protection assignment that resulted in a sack of quarterback Jaxson Dart.

Smith-Schuster, 29, signed with the Giants this summer alongside Odell Beckham Jr. and Braxton Berrios following a veteran workout, Big Blue View reported. He dealt with what Harbaugh called an "old knee" that flared up during camp and kept him out of the preseason opener. Beckham and Berrios entered the preseason opener behind a four-man rotation of Darius Slayton, Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III, who played the first two drives with the starters, according to PFF. Berrios made his mark on special teams instead, with two 15-yard punt returns, per Big Blue Interactive.

Smith-Schuster caught 33 passes for 345 yards and a touchdown last season with the Kansas City Chiefs, per Bleacher Report. He is now a free agent.