Michael

Cox

The second to last pick of the draft, Cox has a power-back pedigree the Giants can fall back on if injury-prone runner Andre Brown can’t survive camp unscathed. Cox’s most likely home is the practice squad.

Cox (5-foot-11 7/8, 220) wasn’t invited to the Combine but turned some heads with a solid Pro Day, running forty times of 4.63 and 4.58 with a 38-inch vertical and 10-foot-7 broad jump. The Giants now have some offseason power back insurance behind Andre Brown, even if Cox will struggle to make the final 53.

Even after David Wilson was benched Sunday night, Cox didn’t get in the game. He’s behind Da’Rel Scott and is only being used to return kickoffs.

Cox is now No. 4 on the depth chart after Brandon Jacobs’ signing. Diehl is still out with a bum thumb. Robinson has a foot injury.

There are no surprises here. Cox is the Giants’ No. 4 tailback behind David Wilson, Brandon Jacobs, and Da’Rel Scott.

Coughlin seems to be suggesting that Cox’s role won’t grow in the wake of Da’Rel Scott’s release. It’s another fantastic sign for the potential usage of David Wilson in Sunday’s game against the Eagles. Wilson should set a season-high in snaps.

As ESPN New York notes, it’s “not clear-cut” who will be David Wilson’s backup while Brown (leg) rehabs. Reporter Dan Graziano does say he knows the Giants like Torain as a pass protector. It’s possible he’ll start off ahead of seventh-round rookie Michael Cox and speedy Da’Rel Scott, but we wouldn’t waste too much time handcuffing Wilson. Torain has been one of the most injury-prone players in the league throughout his career and Brown could be back in a month.

David Wilson is expected to be used on kick returns situationally, but definitely won’t do it full time because he’s going to be a backfield workhorse. Cox was highly impressive in preseason games, showing pass-catching ability and lateral agility as a runner. He’s worth rostering in deep Dynasty leagues.

It’s notable for two reasons. First, it suggests that Scott is ahead of Michael Cox in the battle to back up explosive workhorse David Wilson. Second, it confirms that the Giants don’t want to sign a veteran like Jonathan Dwyer or Beanie Wells before Week 1 because they would then have to guarantee their contract for the whole year. Wilson owners looking for a handcuff are trapped in wait-and-see mode. We’re skeptical Scott can be anything more than a change-of-pace scatback.

Cox is the third-team running back and first-string kick returner. We’re expecting David Wilson to handle a massive workload on Sunday night, with Scott and Cox mixing in sparingly on obvious passing downs. If Wilson were to go down, the Giants would almost certainly sign a veteran running back. They worked out Beanie Wells and Jonathan Dwyer Tuesday.