Giants Waive QB Jake Haener; Practice Squad Return Expected
New York worked out returners and receivers Thursday after cutting its third quarterback ahead of Sunday at Philadelphia
The Giants have waived quarterback Jake Haener, ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported Thursday, citing the transaction wire. Raanan expects Haener to clear and return to New York's practice squad.
The Giants cut QB Jake Haener, according to the transaction wire. Expect him to land on the practice squad. New York also worked out WR Maurice Alexander, WR River Cracraft, WR Steven Sims and P Wes Paul.View on X →
Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan): The Giants cut QB Jake Haener, according to the transaction wire. Expect him to land on the practice squad. New York also worked out WR Maurice Alexander, WR River Cracraft, WR Steven Sims and P Wes Paul.
Haener had been the third quarterback on the 53-man roster behind Jameis Winston and J.J. McCarthy after the Giants signed him off the practice squad earlier this season. That third roster spot is a luxury most teams don't keep once injuries pile up elsewhere, and New York is using the opening to address other needs. Raanan reported the Giants also worked out wide receivers Maurice Alexander, River Cracraft and Steven Sims, plus punter Wes Paul, on Thursday — a returner-heavy look that lines up with special-teams depth concerns heading into the weekend.
The move leaves Winston and McCarthy as the only quarterbacks on the active roster for now. McCarthy, acquired from the Vikings in September after Jaxson Dart's season-ending knee injury, has worked his way into the conversation as more than a developmental piece, while Winston has started the bulk of the season. Cutting Haener does not change that hierarchy; it simply drops the emergency third option unless he is restored to the practice squad and elevated later.
New York is 4-2-1 and visits the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The Eagles are coming off their own quarterback shake-up, benching Tanner McKee in favor of Joe Milton for that matchup. Clearing a roster spot for a returner or receiver before that NFC East game is the more immediate priority for the Giants than carrying three quarterbacks.