Brightwell (hamstring) played in seven games during the regular season, rushing nine times for 19 yards and adding five catches on seven targets for 47 yards.
Most of Brightwell's work came on special teams, though he did get four carries in both Week 3 and Week 4 while Saquon Barkley was out with an injury. Brightwell didn't do much with those opportunities, and he had only one carry over his other five contests combined. The third-year pro's campaign came to a halt after he suffered an ankle injury that eventually landed him on IR, and though he was designated to return ahead of Week 16, New York didn't end up activating him. The Giants' running-back room is in flux heading into the offseason, with Barkley and veteran Matt Breida set to be free agents. Brightwell, 2023 rookie Eric Gray and Jashaun Corbin are New York's three RBs currently under contract for next year, with Gray the most likely of the three to take on a lead-back role if Barkley doesn't return and the team doesn't add a starting-caliber replacement.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Returns to practice
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Brightwell (hamstring) practiced in full Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Brightwell was designated to return from IR on Wednesday, and Thursday marked his first full practice with the team since suffering a hamstring injury Week 7 against the Commanders. The 24-year-old could return Monday against the Eagles, but considering the amount of time the Arizona product has missed, the Giants may wait until Week 17 against the Rams to bring Brightwell back into the fold.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Practice window opens Wednesday
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Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday that Brightwell (hamstring) has been designated for return from injured reseve, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.
Brightwell has been on IR since Week 7, but he'll return to practice Wednesday and can be added back to the 53-man roster at any point within the next 21 days. The running back carried nine times for 19 yards and recorded five receptions for 47 yards on seven targets in seven appearances this season prior to landing on IR.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Headed to IR
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The Giants placed Brightwell (hamstring) on injured reserve Saturday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
Brightwell sustained a hamstring injury in Week 7 against the Commanders. He'll now have to sit out for at least the next four games and will be eligible to return against the Patriots on Nov. 26. Jashaun Corbin and Deon Jackson are set to take on backfield depth roles behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Clear to play vs. Jets
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Brightwell (hamstring) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game versus the Jets, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.
Brightwell is in line to return from a three-game absence in Week 8. With Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida both also healthy headed into Sunday's game, Brightwell figures to settle into a reserve role.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Non-participant at practice
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Brightwell (hamstring) did not participate at practice Wednesday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Brightwell was forced out of Sunday's game versus Washington with a hamstring injury, which is now also keeping him out of practice to start the week. Unless he can come back to practice Thursday or Friday, he'll probably have to sit out Week 8 versus the Jets.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Out for game
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Brightwell (hamstring) will not return to Sunday's game against the Commanders, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.
Brightwell did not record any stats before exiting, so it's unclear when he sustained the injury. Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida are New York's only remaining running backs on the active roster. Brightwell has nine carries for 19 yards in 2023.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Suiting up Sunday night
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Brightwell (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against Buffalo.
Brightwell came into the weekend questionable with an ankle injury, but he will be able to take the field against Buffalo. Saquon Barkley (ankle) is also active for the contest, so Brightwell is likely to see his already small role on offense further reduced. Brightwell worked exclusively on special teams last week against Miami, and that may be the case again Sunday night.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Now sitting out of practice
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Brightwell (ankle) did not participate at practice Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Brightwell began the week with a limited practice Wednesday, but his absence Thursday puts his availability for Week 6 in doubt. If he can't practice in at least some capacity Friday, he'll probably be forced to sit out Sunday at Buffalo.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Good to go at Miami
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Brightwell (ankle) does not carry an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game at the Dolphins, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Brightwell was hobbled at practice during the week, but the ankle issue he's dealing with won't be severe enough to keep him out in Week 5. His projected role depends almost squarely on the availability of Saquon Barkley, who is listed as questionable with an ankle injury of his own.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Officially limited in pratice
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Brightwell was limited in practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
It was previously reported Wednesday by Bob Brookover of NJ.com that Brightwell was to be limited at practice Wednesday but without a specified reason. Salomone's report confirms those expectations were correct while also shedding some light on the cause, which is due to an ankle injury. Brightwell has seen his role grow over the last two weeks while Saquon Barkley recovers from a sprained ankle. If Barkley remains out and Brightwell recovers in time, he should see a continuance of that role Sunday against the Dolphins.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Limited by injury
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Brightwell (undisclosed) will be limited in practice Wednesday, Bob Brookover of NJ.com reports.
It's not clear what the injury Brightwell is dealing with is, but the Arizona product will be unable to participate in full to the start the week. He'll try to ramp up his activity ahead of Sunday's game against Miami on Thursday or Friday.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Gets five touches Monday
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Brightwell carried four times for nine yards and caught one of two targets for 10 yards in a Week 4 loss to Seattle on Monday.
For the second straight week, Brightwell was the only Giants running back aside from Matt Breida to garner any carries in the absence of Saquon Barkley (ankle), though it was quarterback Daniel Jones who led the team with 66 rushing yards. Brightwell didn't do much with his opportunities on the ground, with his longest rush going for just four yards. Though the 24-year-old has seen more work with Barkley out of action, he's managed just 14 yards on eight carries over the past two weeks while adding 41 yards through the air on three receptions. Barkley has been making progress with his high ankle sprain and has a chance to suit up Week 5 against Miami, but even if he were to sit out again, Brightwell has very little value as a fantasy asset at the moment.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Still dealing with injury
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Brightwell (undisclosed) was not a full participant at practice Thursday, Michael Eisen of the Giants' official site reports.
Brightwell stands to contribute mostly on special teams when healthy, as he currently profiles as New York's top kick returner. However, he could occasionally spell Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida as a depth option on offense, per John Fennelley of USA Today.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Still dealing with injury
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Brightwell (undisclosed) is still not fully healed as of Sunday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
Brightwell has been sidelined by the injury for more than a week, and his inability to get back on the field will likely hamper his chances to make the team's 53-man roster as the No. 3 running back, according to Duggan.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Leading rusher in Week 18
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Brightwell carried the ball 11 times for 60 yards and caught one of three targets for three yards in Sunday's 22-16 loss to the Eagles.
With Saquon Barkley inactive in a relatively meaningless game for the Giants, Brightwell wound up being the team's leading rusher. The 60 yards were also a new career high for the 2021 sixth-round pick, and if somehow the team doesn't re-sign Barkley in the offseason or bring in a high-profile replacement, Brightwell could have a much more significant role in 2023.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Loses role on offense
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Brightwell did not log any offensive snaps in New York's Week 15 win over the Commanders. He played on 15 special-teams snaps and tallied 21 yards on his lone kickoff return.
With Saquon Barkley limited last week against the Eagles, Brightwell saw a season-high 21 offensive snaps and tallied 41 total yards. However, Barkley was back at full strength Sunday, pushing Brightwell out of the offense entirely. Matt Breida looks to have a secure hold on the minimal backup touches behind Barkley, so Brightwell could be in line for more games like this one during which he works exclusively as a special teamer.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Gets increased work in Week 14 loss
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Brightwell gained 23 yards on five carries and secured two of three targets for 18 yards in a loss to Philadelphia in Week 14. He added three kick returns for 58 yards.
Brightwell didn't log an offensive snap against Washington in Week 13, but he tallied 21 against the Eagles on Sunday. That was partly due to Saquon Barkley's limitations due to a neck injury and partly due to the Giants getting routed in the contest. It was nonetheless revealing that Brightwell logged just two fewer snaps than presumed No. 2 back Matt Breida, and Brightwell was the far more productive player with 41 total yards to Breida's 15. Neither backup ball carrier has fantasy value as long as Barkley is healthy, but if the bell-cow starter is unable to move past his neck injury and is forced to miss time, both Breida and Brightwell would have some intrigue as fantasy pickups.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Deemed questionable for Sunday
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Brightwell (illness) is questionable for Sunday's matchup against Washington, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Brightwell didn't practice Wednesday due to an illness, but he's logged back-to-back limited sessions to end Week 13 prep and has a chance to suit up Sunday. The backup running back saw a career-high seven touches during the Giants' Thanksgiving Day loss to Dallas, but if Brightwell is deemed available against Washington, it's unclear if he'll match that type of usage while operating behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida.
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Giants' Gary Brightwell: Under the weather
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Brightwell is dealing with an illness Tuesday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.
Brightwell is coming off a season-high five carries for 31 yards, as well as two catches on two targets for 18 yards in Week 12's loss to the Cowboys. With no one behind Brightwell on the team's positional depth chart, a promotion from the team's practice squad may be in order, if he is unable to suit up Sunday against the Commanders.
