Lawrence

Cager

The 27-year-old Cager went undrafted in 2020 and bounced around the Jets, Browns, and Giants throughout his NFL career. In his most recent stint with the Giants, he was signed to a one-year deal in the offseason, waived, then re-signed to the practice squad. Cager is now let go from the team’s practice squad with an injury settlement after competing for a tight end spot in the offseason.

With Darren Waller’s recent retirement, the Giants are looking for a reliable pass-catching tight end. “It looked this spring like Cager and fourth-round pick Theo Johnson will be asked” to fill Waller’s role in the New York offense. Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Cager, a converted wideout who has 19 receptions over five NFL seasons, was “probably one of the most improved players throughout the offseason.” ESPN’s Jordan Raanan did not mention presumed starting TE Daniel Bellinger as a candidate to take on pass-catching duties in 2024.

Pugh famously came #straightoffthecouch and into the Giants’ starting lineup after being signed to the practice squad earlier this month. Pugh even moved to left tackle against the Bills after the Giants suffered more offensive line injuries. Now that Pugh is on the active roster, he should be a fixture in the starting lineup for a depleted Giants team. TE Lawrence Cager was waived in a corresponding move.

Cager was set to be an exclusive rights free agent this offseason but will be back with the Giants to start 2023. A former wide receiver, Cager caught 13 passes for 118 yards and one touchdown in his first season with the Giants. He’ll likely continue in his role as added depth behind Daniel Bellinger.

Bellinger has missed the past few weeks after a horrifying eye injury that required surgery. Apparently he’s ready to return, and could resume his role as the Giants’ primary pass-catching tight end this week against Washington. Bellinger would be a reasonable streaming option in deeper leagues. Lawrence Cager, who has operated as the team’s tight end over the past few weeks, would lose all fantasy viability.

Vannett has two catches on the season and has been on the New Orleans practice squad for much of the past couple months. The Giants are scraping bottom at tight end with Daniel Bellinger (eye) sidelined. Lawrence Cager, a former wide receiver who converted to tight end, has served as the team’s primary pass-catching tight end over the past two weeks. Vannett likely won’t play on Thursday against the Cowboys.

Well that escalated quickly. Despite being the Jets second round pick last year, Mims was working alongside Jeff Smith and Lawrence Cager today. At this point, there can be no doubt that free agent addition Keelan Cole is firmly ahead of Mims on the depth chart. Rookie Elijah Moore has also continued to impress and is poised to play ahead of Mims as well. Mims offers size, deep speed and contested catch ability, so it’s possible he eventually earns a meaningful role this season. It’s hard to imagine a more inauspicious start to training camp, however.

It looked as if it was a serious hamstring strain on Thursday night. He collapsed on Metlife’s turf while running a route. After he left, Jamison Crowder and Jeff Smith operated as the top receivers with Breshad Perriman (hamstring) on the sideline. Cager is a fringe active roster player.

Anyone who saw the injury live knows Cager will not be returning. Cager’s left leg completely buckled on MetLife Stadium’s increasingly-infamous turf. He was in complete agony before being helped off the field. The emergency injury fill-in was catchless on two targets before going down.

The team also elevated CB Lamar Jackson to the roster. The Jets’ wide receiver group is notoriously thin, though Jamison Crowder (hamstring) is expected back in some capacity against the Broncos on Thursday.