On September 30, the New York Giants made a signing ahead of Week 5. Art Stapleton, a beat reporter for NorthJersey.com, was the first to report that kick returner and wide receiver Kearis Jackson is joining the Giants’ practice squad. Jackson, a second-year player from Georgia who previously played for the Tennessee Titans, had several impressive returns during the preseason before suffering a knee injury. While this addition is just for the practice squad, it addresses a clear need for the team in the return game. Stapleton noted that the Giants have experienced issues with kickoff returns from running backs Eric Gray and Tyrone Tracy, giving Jackson a chance to showcase his skills in practice this week. Stapleton also mentioned that wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette has filled in as the punt returner in Weeks 3 and 4, and he could be an option for kick returns as well, especially after his 22-yard punt return against the Dallas Cowboys. Jackson is an exciting 24-year-old prospect for head coach Brian Daboll, known for his versatility at Georgia, where he contributed as a receiver, runner, kick returner, and punt returner. In his 55 college games, he amassed over 2,200 total yards, with 1,107 yards coming from receptions, 805 from kick returns, and 338 from punt returns, along with 48 rushing yards. If he stays healthy and can deliver, Jackson has the potential to be a valuable all-around contributor for the Giants. With the Titans, he averaged 8.0 yards on six punt returns in 2023 and racked up 111 yards on three kickoffs, including a long return of 63 yards.
Injuries Have Decimated the Giants’ Returner Options This offseason, the Giants focused on strengthening their returner position, signing veteran Isaiah McKenzie and re-signing 2023 returner Gunner Olszewski. However, injuries have created a pressing need in this area once again. McKenzie was placed on injured reserve this summer due to a lower body injury and was later released after coming to an injury settlement. Similarly, Olszewski suffered a groin injury during training camp but was cleared to return before Week 1. Unfortunately, he re-aggravated the groin issue during warmups and was ruled out for the game against the Minnesota Vikings. Following the Week 1 loss, head coach Brian Daboll announced that Olszewski would be sidelined for a significant period and was placed on injured reserve. He is expected to miss at least four weeks and could be eligible to return in Week 6. Kearis Jackson as a Potential Replacement for Isaiah McKenzie With Jackson’s addition, Dan Duggan, a beat writer for The Athletic, echoed the concerns raised earlier. He noted, “The Giants have been far from dynamic on kickoff returns. They attempted to tackle the position this offseason, but both experienced returners, Olszewski and McKenzie, have faced injuries.” Jackson was characterized by NFL draft expert Lance Zierlein as a “compact slot receiver” who may lack impressive overall production but has shown flashes of talent as a zone-beater on intermediate routes. Zierlein explained, “Jackson may not have early explosiveness at the start of his routes, but he picks up speed in open spaces. While he’s not a natural hands-catcher, he has dropped very few balls and demonstrated the ability to catch passes even while being contacted in 2022. He will require an accurate passer due to his limited catch radius and jump-ball capabilities.” Zierlein also highlighted that Jackson’s kick return skills, along with his willingness to block, provide him a solid chance to succeed at the NFL level.
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