Elijhaa

Penny

Penny did draw two passing-game targets, bringing his season total to a career-high 13. Penny’s 24 2021-22 rushes were also a new career high, though that is obviously not saying much for a 28-year-old lead blocker. Now headed to free agency, Penny’s New York future is uncertain with the Giants headed for major front office changes. Penny has been with the G-Men since 2018.

It’s a considerable uptick for Barkley after he played 47.5 percent of the team’s snaps in Week 1 against Denver. Barkley handled 13 carries and caught two passes on 27 pass routes while Elijhaa Penny and Devonate Booker each had two rushing attempts in Week 2. Though he hardly looks like the pre-ACL injury Barkley, the team’s commitment to increasing his usage should be encouraging for fantasy managers who took a chance on Barkley in the first or second round this summer. Barkley now gets ten days of rest before facing one of the NFL’s worst defenses in Atlanta.

Penny had been headed for restricted free agency. Primarily a lead blocker, injuries did briefly force Penny into a running role last season. Ultimately, he played just 127 snaps on offense, featuring more regularly on special teams.

Penny was on the Cardinals’ practice squad. ESPN Giants reporter Jordan Raanan hints Penny will be taking FB Shane Smith’s roster spot outright after Smith struggled against the Cowboys. Judging from how the Giants looked on Sunday night, switching fullbacks will be tantamount to re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

An UDFA out of Idaho, Penny had a nice preseason, rushing 49 times for 195 yards (4.0 YPC). He’ll likely be stashed on the practice squad.

The Cards are promoting most of their practice squad to the offseason roster. Penny was an UDFA who made a little bit of noise in the preseason, but not enough to earn a regular season call-up.

Johnson is fully expected to miss multiple weeks and is possibly headed to I.R. Playing from behind much of the day, the Cardinals used Andre Ellington on 20 snaps, Kerwynn Williams for nine, and Elijhaa Penny on one. Jurecki expects all three to get work, and projects Williams to “between the tackles,” Penny in “short yardage,” and Ellington in the “passing game.” Williams is probably the preferred add off waiver wires this week, but it’s clear nobody is going to replace Johnson as a true workhorse in the desert. D.J. Foster was also just signed off the Patriots’ practice squad. Buck Allen and Tarik Cohen are preferred adds over Williams.

As exclusive rights free agents, the quartet has to either sign the tender or sit out 2018, meaning they will be back with the Cardinals. This is a surprisingly robust list of ERFAs. Penny gained 162 yards from scrimmage with two scores last season, Wetzel made 11 starts at right and left tackle, and Pierre played well in a rotational role on the defensive line. All three have a good shot to crack the final roster out of camp.

Penny gained 162 yards from scrimmage with two scores last season, an impressive feat for a second-year UDFA. Playing fullback and tight end on top of running back duties will give him a better shot to make the team out of camp, but it’s a legitimate question mark whether the 6'2", 234-pound Penny can make a seamless transition as a primary blocker. Fourth-round pick Chase Edmonds will serve as David Johnson’s backup.

Penny got 31 carries in the Cardinals’ banged up backfield last season. He made the switch to fullback and tight end in the spring but it didn’t stick.