Malik Harrison Recovered a Fumble in Week 3, and the Giants Made a Move That Tells You Everything

The New York Giants just made it official, signing linebacker Malik Harrison to their 53-man roster, a move that feels like it’s been coming for a minute. This isn’t some minor tweak. The team had already elevated Harrison from the practice squad three different times in the first five weeks of the season, which frankly, tells you everything you need to know about what they think of him and their linebacker situation.

The Grind Pays Off: From Practice Squad to Prime Time

Harrison’s journey to a permanent spot has been a real grind. He’s been putting in the work, and the stats back it up. We saw him nab two tackles way back in the season opener against the Colts. Then, in Week 3, he made a huge play, recovering a fumble in their win over the Titans. Those are the kinds of plays that get you noticed, the kind that scream “keep me on the field.” Harrison isn’t new to the league either, being a 2020 third-round pick. He’s got some serious mileage under his belt already, having played 76 games for the Ravens and another 11 for the Steelers. This dude knows what it takes.

Smoot Takes His Place: A Roster Shuffle to Watch

With Harrison moving up, someone had to fill his spot, and that’s linebacker Dawuane Smoot, who is now on the practice squad. Smoot actually worked out for the Giants on Monday, and he’s got his own impressive resume, with 27 sacks across 127 career games. That’s a serious pass-rushing threat to have waiting in the wings. This kind of roster shuffling tells you the Giants are looking for impact players everywhere, keeping the competition hot and making sure every spot is earned.

This full-time spot for Harrison is huge for him personally, locking him in for the long haul after those temporary call-ups. Keep an eye on how he leverages this opportunity. He’s already shown flashes, and now he’s got the chance to really prove himself game in and game out.

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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.