Eric Gray Injury News & Updates

Gray was moved to the reserve/PUP list byt the Giants on Tuesday, Dan Salomone of the team's official website reports.

Gray has been sidelined since the beginning of training camp as he continues to nurse an undisclosed injury. The running back will now be forced to miss at least the first four games of the regular season while on the PUP list.

The Giants placed Gray (undisclosed) on the active/PUP list Tuesday, Dan Salomone of the team's official site reports.

It's not clear what issue has caused Gray to not be ready for the start of training camp, but it will be important for him to get back on the field quickly since he's not a lock for a roster spot. Gray can be activated from the PUP list and begin practicing as soon as he passes a physical.

Gray rushed 14 times for 31 yards and caught 10 of 11 targets for 82 yards in 17 regular-season games during the 2024 campaign. He also tallied 554 kick-return yards on 21 opportunities while losing two fumbles.

Gray played in all 17 games and logged 41 more defensive snaps in 2024 compared to his rookie 2023 campaign, but he got three fewer carries and tallied 17 fewer rushing yards. His 2.2 YPC gave New York little reason to use him as a ball carrier, though Gray did improve mildly on his numbers as a pass catcher. The Oklahoma product's biggest role was as a kick returner, but his ball-security issues led the Giants to turn to Ihmir Smith-Marsette as their lead kick returner late in the campaign. Gray will be in the third year of his rookie contract in 2025, and given his lack of production thus far along with Tyrone Tracy's emergence as the team's lead back, there does seem to be much room for Gray to ascend on New York's depth chart.

Gray gained 13 yards on three carries in a loss to the Bengals on Sunday.

Devin Singletary was inactive for the second straight week due to a groin injury, but that didn't result in more work for Gray. In fact, the second-year back played half as many offensive snaps (13) as he did last week against Seattle and got four fewer touches. Meanwhile, rookie Tyrone Tracy continued to impress with 107 yards from scrimmage and a rushing touchdown while logging a workhorse-like 84 percent of New York's offensive snaps. Gray's modest 13 rushing yards more than doubled his previous season-high mark, which only indicates what a minor part of the Giants' ground game he's been this season. It remains to be seen if Singletary will be back Week 7 against the Eagles -- and whether Tracy has done enough to take over the team's lead-back role upon Singletary's return -- but either way, it doesn't appear that Gray is going to have a significant enough workload moving forward to be a factor in the vast majority of fantasy formats.

Gray rushed four times for four yards, caught three of four targets for 50 yards and lost a fumble in Sunday's 29-20 win over the Seahawks.

Gray made consecutive catches of 18 and 19 yards on the Giants' first drive, which earned him the first crack at goal-line carries in the absence of Devin Singletary (groin). Gray fumbled away that opportunity, losing the ball just outside the goal line for a fumble that was returned 100 yards for a touchdown the other way. The Giants leaned heavily on Tyrone Tracy (18 carries for 129 yards) the rest of the way. Gray is clearly behind both Singletary and Tracy on the depth chart heading into Week 6 against the Bengals, but he could get some opportunities in passing situations if Singletary sits again.

Gray rushed one time for one yard in Thursday's 20-15 loss to the Cowboys.

Gray once again saw the majority of his workload come as a kick returner, producing 54 yards on two returns. He played just five out of the team's 69 offensive snaps, operating as the clear No. 3 option at running back behind Devin Singletary and Tyrone Tracy. Through four games in 2024, Gray has compiled seven yards on four carries while playing 15 total offensive snaps.

Gray didn't log any rushes or targets in Sunday's Week 2 loss to Washington, and he returned five kickoffs for 128 yards.

Though he did fine as a kick returner, Gray made no fantasy impact in most formats since he didn't touch the ball on offense. Meanwhile, rookie Tyrone Tracy got just one offensive touch (a two-yard rush) while veteran tailback Devin Singletary dominated the backfield work with 16 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown along with one reception for no yards. Through two weeks, it seems apparent that Singletary will take on a workhorse role for New York, with Tracy and Gray getting limited scraps behind him.

Gray rushed twice for six yards and caught his only target for nine yards in a 28-6 Week 1 loss to Minnesota on Sunday. He added a 22-yard kick return.

With Saquon Barkley off to Philadelphia, there was reason to believe that Gray could see more of a share of the work in the backfield in his second NFL campaign. That didn't come to pass against the Vikings, as Devin Singletary dominated New York's rushing role with 10 carries while both Gray and fellow backup tailback Tyrone Tracy got two totes apiece. The Giants falling behind early and trailing 28-6 by the end of the third period probably impacted the team's overall game plan, though New York could be playing from behind often this season given the state of its roster, and with that in mind it's worth noting that both Singletary (five targets) and Tracy (three targets) saw more work in the passing game. As a whole, Gray logged just seven snaps to Tracy's 15 and Singletary's 50, hence it makes sense to view Gray as the current No. 3 option in the running back pecking order.

Gray rushed three times for 18 yards and added five receptions on six targets for 22 yards in Saturday's preseason loss to Houston.

After shining with 98 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in New York's first exhibition game, Gray took a back seat Saturday while 2024 starting tailback Devin Singletary got his first preseason action. Despite the reduced workload, Gray did nothing to diminish his chance of earning the backup RB role, with his most impressive play being a 13-yard carry in the third quarter. Tyrone Tracy (ankle) missed the game, but his injury isn't expected to be a long-term one, and he could return for the Giants' final preseason contest next Saturday against the Jets. It's still uncertain which of the two will ultimately end up as the primary backup behind Singletary, though both Gray and Tracy could end up getting a fair amount of opportunities in 2024 if Singletary isn't used as a workhorse to the same extent that Saquon Barkley was last year.

Gray rushed four times for 52 yards and two touchdowns while catching all four of his targets for 46 yards in Thursday's 14-3 preseason win over the Lions.

Gray has reportedly been running slightly behind rookie fifth-round pick Tyrone Tracy (five carries for 26 yards) in the battle for the top backup role behind Devin Singletary, but Thursday's performance could help Gray flip the script. The second-year pro's top highlight was a 48-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, on which Gray wrong-footed a Detroit defender with a nice cut in the open field. He added a one-yard rushing TD later in the first half and also showcased his playmaking ability as a pass catcher. Gray will look to build on this strong performance in the Giants' second preseason game against the Texans next Saturday.

Tyrone Tracy is leading the training-camp battle to be the Giants' No. 2 running back behind Devin Singletary, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, which would push Gray to third on the depth chart.

Roles are far from set in stone at this point in camp, especially among a Giants running-back corps that will have an entirely different look without the presence of Saquon Barkley. Singletary was brought in during the offseason to take over the lead-back role, but he may not be used as a workhorse to the same extent that Barkley was and hasn't yet demonstrated Barkley's pass-catching acumen. As such, the team's No. 2 back could get considerably more opportunities this season than Matt Breida (who has since moved on) did in the role last year. Gray was a fifth-round pick by New York in 2023 and got his feet wet last year but struggled with 17 carries for just 48 yards. He's listed as second at the running-back position on the team's initial depth chart, per Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site, but according to Dunleavy, Tracy has developed the upper hand for the spot in training camp. Tracy's experience as a wide receiver (he was a wideout during most of his time in college) could be particularly useful

Gray is in good position to handle a bigger role in his second NFL season, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic.

New lead back Devin Singletary is unlikely to dominate backfield snaps the way Saquon Barkley did last season, leaving more work on the table for Gray and other backups. A 2023 fifth-round pick, Gray played in 13 games as a rookie, taking 23 touches for 70 yards on 65 snaps. Competition for backup roles behind Singletary doesn't appear especially fierce in New York, with Gray joined by fifth-round rookie Tyrone Tracy, veteran journeyman Deon Jackson, fourth-year pro Gary Brightwell and a couple of young UDFAs (Jashuan Corbin, Dante Miller).

Gray rushed three times for 19 yards and hauled in his only target for nine yards in Sunday's 27-10 win against the Eagles.

Though the Giants had nothing to play for in the contest, they nonetheless gave Saquon Barkley a near-typical workload, as the workhorse back logged 70 percent of the team's offensive snaps and notched 20 touches. However, for the second straight week it was Gray rather than veteran Matt Breida who picked up the scraps behind Barkley, with the rookie logging his second-most rush attempts and yards of the campaign. The late-season uptick in opportunity was likely a result of the Giants wanting to get a look at Gray once they were eliminated from playoff contention. It's unclear how the team's running-back room will look next season, as both Barkley and Breida are set to be free agents. New York has many holes to address in the offseason, so if Barkley doesn't return in 2024, the team may opt to give Gray a major role next year rather than prioritize adding a starting running back in the draft or through free agency.

Gray rushed once for two yards and brought in his only target for six yards in Sunday's Week 17 loss to the Rams.

As usual, Saquon Barkley dominated work out of the backfield for New York, totaling 58 all-purpose yards on 15 touches. However, for the first time this season, veteran back Matt Breida didn't get a single touch, with the sparse leftovers behind Barkley going to Gray. That didn't lead to much production for the rookie, but it could be a precursor to Week 18, as the Giants have little to play for -- aside, perhaps, from a higher draft pick -- and could opt to give Gray a longer look against the Eagles at the expense of opportunities for Breida and perhaps even Barkley.

Gray played one of the Giants' 56 snaps on offense in Monday's 24-22 win over the Packers.

Since being reinstated from injured reserve Nov. 25 after missing four games with a calf issue, Gray has suited up for the Giants' subsequent two contests, but he's logged just three snaps on offense. He'll likely struggle to find playing time at running back while both Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida are healthy.

Gray (calf) is active Sunday against the Patriots, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Gray was able to log back-to-back full practices after being designated to return from IR on Wednesday and was added to the 53-man roster Saturday. The rookie running back should operate as the team's No. 3 option at the position, behind starter Saquon Barkley and backup Matt Breida.

The Giants activated Gray (calf) from injured reserve Saturday, Dan Salomone of the team's official site reports.

Gray was designated to return from IR on Wednesday and was able to log two consecutive full practice sessions to end the week. He's considered questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots and Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports that Gray is not expected to resume punt or kick return duties if he does suit up.

Gray (calf) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Patriots, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.

Gray has missed the Giants' last four games with a calf issue, but he was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday, and he's got a chance to return in Week 12. The rookie running back out of Oklahoma would need to be activated to New York's active roster in order to suit up Sunday.

The Giants will designate Gray (calf) for return from their injured reserve list Wednesday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

The transaction will open a 21-day window during which the Giants can officially activate Gray before they'd have to shut him down for the rest of the year. Their injury reports this week will give an indication of whether he could suit up for Week 12.

The Giants placed Gray (calf) on injured reserve Tuesday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

In a corresponding move, the Giants signed Jashaun Corbin from the Panthers' practice squad. Gray sustained the calf injury Sunday against the Commanders and will be forced to miss at least the next four games. He's eligible to return against the Patriots on Nov. 26.

Gray is considered questionable to return to Sunday's matchup with the Commanders due to a calf injury, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Gray failed to record any stats and muffed a punt prior to exiting the game. If he is unable to return, Gary Brightwell would be the No. 3 option in the backfield behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida, while also the top option to return kicks.

Gray played one snap on offense and gained two yards on his lone carry in Sunday's 14-9 loss to the Bills.

After gaining 26 yards on 13 touches (12 carries, one reception) in the Giants' loss to the Dolphins in Week 5, Gray unsurprisingly saw his playing time take a drastic hit while New York welcomed lead back Saquon Barkley (ankle) back from a three-game absence. The Giants didn't attempt to ease Barkley back in, as he took on a 79 percent snap share and 28 touches. With Barkley seemingly having come out of Sunday's game without any setbacks, he should serve as the Giants' bell cow moving forward, leaving few snaps available for the likes of Gray, Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell.

Gray rushed 12 times for 25 yards, added one catch on his only target for one yard and returned a kickoff for 20 yards in Sunday's Week 5 loss to Miami.

Gray was busy Sunday, though he was far from efficient. Coming into the contest, all of his NFL action had been on special teams, but the rookie saw a prominent role on offense against the Dolphins by leading New York in carries, logging three more than starter Matt Breida. Neither ball carrier was able to make much of an impact -- Breida gained 21 yards on his nine totes while Gray tallied 25 yards on 12 carries. The team's offensive line has struggled mightily this season, and the result has been a 1-4 start behind the league's lowest-scoring offense. While it was a positive for Gray that he finally got involved in the backfield Sunday, he'll likely return to a minimal role when Saquon Barkley (ankle) is able to return from a three-game absence, which could happen as soon as next Sunday against Buffalo.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday that Gray will resume working as the team's primary punt returner in Week 5 against Miami, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

After Gray muffed a punt in the first quarter of Monday's loss to Seattle, New York turned to veteran cornerback Adoree' Jackson to work as the returner the rest of the way. Keeping Jackson in that role was likely off the table as a long-term solution given that he sprained his MCL while returning a punt last season and subsequently sat out seven games, and Daboll confirmed Wednesday that Gray won't be permanently demoted. The rookie running back has worked exclusively on special teams so far this season -- even with Saquon Barkley (ankle) missing the past two weeks, Gray has yet to log an offensive snap in the NFL.

Gray could pick up his first snaps on offense in Thursday's game in San Francisco with top running back Saquon Barkley dealing with a right ankle sprain that is expected to keep him sidelined Week 3 and potentially additional contests to follow, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.

The rookie fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma has dressed for both of the Giants' first two games, but all 20 of his snaps have come on special teams while he's served as New York's punt returner in addition to holding a role on coverage units. Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell have both taken snaps at running back ahead of him when Barkley has been off the field for the first two games and are presumably first in line for work Thursday, but Gray's shiftiness in the open field could at least prompt the Giants to give him a look in a small change-of-pace role this week. As Stapleton notes, however, Gray is viewed as a liability in pass protection, which may hinder his chances of seeing a more extended opportunity even if Barkley is sidelined longer than anticipated.

Gray is listed as both the primary punt returner and primary kickoff returner on the Giants' unofficial depth chart for Week 1.

It is a slight surprise that Gray is listed as New York's lead kickoff returner ahead of Gary Brightwell, who served in the role last season. However, Brightwell is dealing with an undisclosed injury that has impacted his practice schedule for the past several weeks, so the Week 1 depth chart may be a reflection of the fact that he isn't fully healthy. Gray was already assumed to be taking over punt-return duties from Richie James, who is now with the Chiefs. The rookie running back is also listed as fourth in the Giants' running-back pecking order behind Saquon Barkley, Matt Breida and Brightwell.

Gray rushed seven times for 11 yards and caught all four of his targets for 48 yards in Saturday's preseason finale against the Jets.

Gray's struggles as a rusher continued this preseason, contributing more as a receiver while also handling kick returns. The fifth-round pick was the third back to enter Saturday's contest behind Jashaun Corbin and James Robinson (Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida did not play). Based on his usage this preseason, Gray will have to make the Giants' roster as a contributor on special teams this year.

Gray rushed five times for nine yards and caught two of three targets for 10 yards in Friday's 21-16 preseason loss to the Lions. He also returned three kickoffs for 62 yards and two punts for eight yards.

Gray didn't see the field until after veterans Matt Breida and James Robinson, suggesting he still has ground to make up in the competition to claim the backup spot behind Saquon Barkley. The Giants clearly want to see what the rookie fifth-round pick can do in the return game, and Gray fared fine in that regard Friday. After a modest performance on offense in his NFL debut, Gray will look to put forth a better performance in the team's next preseason game against the Panthers.

Gray fielded punts in practice Thursday and is a candidate to take on that role for the Giants this season, Ryan Novozinksy of NJ Advance Media reports.

Gray wasn't a prominent return man in college -- he tallied just nine punt returns and four kickoff returns in his four-year tenure, including none of either type in his senior season -- but he's a logical candidate to see work in that regard for the Giants given his lateral quickness. Running back Gary Brightwell worked as New York's primary kickoff returner last season, while Richie James served as the team's top punt returner for much of the campaign. James is now in Kansas City, and the team may not want to turn to a starter such as cornerback Adoree' Jackson, who sprained his MCL while returning a punt in Week 11 last season and missed seven weeks. As such, Gray could take over on punts while also working in a limited role as a running back behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida.

The Giants selected Gray in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 172nd overall.

Gray isn't particularly fast (4.62 40-yard dash at Pro Day), but the 5-foot-10, 207-pounder is a shifty runner and plays behind his pads well. The redshirt senior didn't start until his final season at Oklahoma, but even if he doesn't prove to be an explosive runner at the NFL level, he was a capable receiver whenever he got the opportunity. Given the Giants' current depth behind clear-cut top back Saquon Barkley, Gray could carve out a role as a pass-catching specialist or pass blocker when New York opts to spell its franchise tailback.

The Giants selected Gray in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 172nd overall.

Gray isn't particularly fast (4.62 40-yard dash at Pro Day), but the 5-foot-10, 207-pounder is a shifty runner and plays behind his pads well. The redshirt senior didn't start until his final season at Oklahoma, but even if he doesn't prove to be an explosive runner at the NFL level, he was a capable receiver whenever he got the opportunity. Given the Giants' current depth behind clear-cut top back Saquon Barkley, Gray could carve out a role as a pass-catching specialist or pass blocker when New York opts to spell its franchise tailback.