Brightwell is again a backup running back for the Giants, and he could be worth drafting with a late-round pick in all leagues. Brightwell will enter training camp likely as the No. 4 running back on the depth chart behind Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida and rookie Eric Gray, but Brightwell could find himself in a prominent role with a strong performance. Even if Brightwell isn't drafted in most leagues, he could be a popular addition off the waiver wire in case Barkley misses any time during the season, but Breida and Gray likely will remain ahead of Brightwell for the majority of the year.
The Giants placed Brightwell (hamstring) on injured reserve Saturday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
Brightwell sustained a hamstring injury in Week 7 against the Commanders. He'll now have to sit out for at least the next four games and will be eligible to return against the Patriots on Nov. 26. Jashaun Corbin and Deon Jackson are set to take on backfield depth roles behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Won't play Week 8
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Brightwell (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against against the Jets, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reports.
Brightwell didn't practice at all during Week 8 prep, and he's thus been ruled out for Sunday's matchup. The third-year running back has been used mostly on special teams this season, and he hasn't logged an offensive snap since Week 4. However, with rookie RB Eric Gray moved to IR on Tuesday, the Giants recently signed both Jashaun Corbin and Deon Jackson to serve as depth behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida out of the backfield.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Clear to play vs. Jets
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Brightwell (hamstring) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game versus the Jets, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.
Brightwell is in line to return from a three-game absence in Week 8. With Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida both also healthy headed into Sunday's game, Brightwell figures to settle into a reserve role.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Non-participant at practice
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Brightwell (hamstring) did not participate at practice Wednesday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Brightwell was forced out of Sunday's game versus Washington with a hamstring injury, which is now also keeping him out of practice to start the week. Unless he can come back to practice Thursday or Friday, he'll probably have to sit out Week 8 versus the Jets.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Out for game
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Brightwell (hamstring) will not return to Sunday's game against the Commanders, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.
Brightwell did not record any stats before exiting, so it's unclear when he sustained the injury. Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida are New York's only remaining running backs on the active roster. Brightwell has nine carries for 19 yards in 2023.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Suiting up Sunday night
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Brightwell (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against Buffalo.
Brightwell came into the weekend questionable with an ankle injury, but he will be able to take the field against Buffalo. Saquon Barkley (ankle) is also active for the contest, so Brightwell is likely to see his already small role on offense further reduced. Brightwell worked exclusively on special teams last week against Miami, and that may be the case again Sunday night.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Now sitting out of practice
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Brightwell (ankle) did not participate at practice Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Brightwell began the week with a limited practice Wednesday, but his absence Thursday puts his availability for Week 6 in doubt. If he can't practice in at least some capacity Friday, he'll probably be forced to sit out Sunday at Buffalo.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Good to go at Miami
Rotowire
Brightwell (ankle) does not carry an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game at the Dolphins, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Brightwell was hobbled at practice during the week, but the ankle issue he's dealing with won't be severe enough to keep him out in Week 5. His projected role depends almost squarely on the availability of Saquon Barkley, who is listed as questionable with an ankle injury of his own.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Officially limited in pratice
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Brightwell was limited in practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
It was previously reported Wednesday by Bob Brookover of NJ.com that Brightwell was to be limited at practice Wednesday but without a specified reason. Salomone's report confirms those expectations were correct while also shedding some light on the cause, which is due to an ankle injury. Brightwell has seen his role grow over the last two weeks while Saquon Barkley recovers from a sprained ankle. If Barkley remains out and Brightwell recovers in time, he should see a continuance of that role Sunday against the Dolphins.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Limited by injury
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Brightwell (undisclosed) will be limited in practice Wednesday, Bob Brookover of NJ.com reports.
It's not clear what the injury Brightwell is dealing with is, but the Arizona product will be unable to participate in full to the start the week. He'll try to ramp up his activity ahead of Sunday's game against Miami on Thursday or Friday.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Gets five touches Monday
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Brightwell carried four times for nine yards and caught one of two targets for 10 yards in a Week 4 loss to Seattle on Monday.
For the second straight week, Brightwell was the only Giants running back aside from Matt Breida to garner any carries in the absence of Saquon Barkley (ankle), though it was quarterback Daniel Jones who led the team with 66 rushing yards. Brightwell didn't do much with his opportunities on the ground, with his longest rush going for just four yards. Though the 24-year-old has seen more work with Barkley out of action, he's managed just 14 yards on eight carries over the past two weeks while adding 41 yards through the air on three receptions. Barkley has been making progress with his high ankle sprain and has a chance to suit up Week 5 against Miami, but even if he were to sit out again, Brightwell has very little value as a fantasy asset at the moment.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Still dealing with injury
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Brightwell (undisclosed) was not a full participant at practice Thursday, Michael Eisen of the Giants' official site reports.
Brightwell stands to contribute mostly on special teams when healthy, as he currently profiles as New York's top kick returner. However, he could occasionally spell Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida as a depth option on offense, per John Fennelley of USA Today.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Still dealing with injury
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Brightwell (undisclosed) is still not fully healed as of Sunday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
Brightwell has been sidelined by the injury for more than a week, and his inability to get back on the field will likely hamper his chances to make the team's 53-man roster as the No. 3 running back, according to Duggan.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Leading rusher in Week 18
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Brightwell carried the ball 11 times for 60 yards and caught one of three targets for three yards in Sunday's 22-16 loss to the Eagles.
With Saquon Barkley inactive in a relatively meaningless game for the Giants, Brightwell wound up being the team's leading rusher. The 60 yards were also a new career high for the 2021 sixth-round pick, and if somehow the team doesn't re-sign Barkley in the offseason or bring in a high-profile replacement, Brightwell could have a much more significant role in 2023.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Sees just one snap Week 16
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Brightwell lost one yard on his only carry and returned one kickoff for 26 yards in a loss to the Vikings on Saturday.
After failing to record any offensive snaps against Washington in Week 15, Brightwell got one snap Saturday, but he lost a yard on a first-down carry in the first quarter. His role as the team's kick returner boosts his importance to New York, but Brightwell shouldn't be expected to be a fantasy producer while lead back Saquon Barkley (63 snaps Saturday) and No. 2 ball carrier Matt Breida (11 snaps) are healthy.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Loses role on offense
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Brightwell did not log any offensive snaps in New York's Week 15 win over the Commanders. He played on 15 special-teams snaps and tallied 21 yards on his lone kickoff return.
With Saquon Barkley limited last week against the Eagles, Brightwell saw a season-high 21 offensive snaps and tallied 41 total yards. However, Barkley was back at full strength Sunday, pushing Brightwell out of the offense entirely. Matt Breida looks to have a secure hold on the minimal backup touches behind Barkley, so Brightwell could be in line for more games like this one during which he works exclusively as a special teamer.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Gets increased work in Week 14 loss
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Brightwell gained 23 yards on five carries and secured two of three targets for 18 yards in a loss to Philadelphia in Week 14. He added three kick returns for 58 yards.
Brightwell didn't log an offensive snap against Washington in Week 13, but he tallied 21 against the Eagles on Sunday. That was partly due to Saquon Barkley's limitations due to a neck injury and partly due to the Giants getting routed in the contest. It was nonetheless revealing that Brightwell logged just two fewer snaps than presumed No. 2 back Matt Breida, and Brightwell was the far more productive player with 41 total yards to Breida's 15. Neither backup ball carrier has fantasy value as long as Barkley is healthy, but if the bell-cow starter is unable to move past his neck injury and is forced to miss time, both Breida and Brightwell would have some intrigue as fantasy pickups.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Deemed questionable for Sunday
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Brightwell (illness) is questionable for Sunday's matchup against Washington, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Brightwell didn't practice Wednesday due to an illness, but he's logged back-to-back limited sessions to end Week 13 prep and has a chance to suit up Sunday. The backup running back saw a career-high seven touches during the Giants' Thanksgiving Day loss to Dallas, but if Brightwell is deemed available against Washington, it's unclear if he'll match that type of usage while operating behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Under the weather
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Brightwell is dealing with an illness Tuesday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
Brightwell is coming off a season-high five carries for 31 yards, as well as two catches on two targets for 18 yards in Week 12's loss to the Cowboys. With no one behind Brightwell on the team's positional depth chart, a promotion from the team's practice squad may be in order, if he is unable to suit up Sunday against the Commanders.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Gets expanded role Thursday
Rotowire
Brightwell rushed five times for 31 yards and caught both of his targets for 18 yards in a Thanksgiving loss to Dallas.
Brightwell came into Thursday with just four carries on the campaign and none since Week 5. The second-year back exceeded that season total against the Cowboys, and he added his first two receptions (on his first two targets) of the season. Brightwell did well with the opportunity, ripping off a 15-yard gain on his second carry, following that with an 11-yard rush and later adding carries of four and six yards, respectively, on consecutive plays to single-handedly give New York a first down. Saquon Barkley remained the bell cow in the contest with 15 touches and 44 offensive snaps, and Matt Breida saw his usual level of involvement with three touches and 16 snaps to Brightwell's 10. That suggests that Brightwell still is the third ball-carrying option on the team, though his effectiveness Thursday could lead the Giants to start giving him more looks.
