The New York Giants are releasing outside linebacker Jihad Ward, reports SNY's Connor Hughes.
Ward recorded one tackle across two games with the team while logging 41 defensive snaps after joining the active roster.
The Giants signed Ward off the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad in late September to bolster the edge group following Brian Burns’ season-ending ACL tear. The veteran hybrid had previously spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons in East Rutherford, appearing in 34 games with 20 starts and totaling eight sacks.
He also had prior ties to the current coaching staff, playing for John Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens in 2019-20 and for defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson with the Tennessee Titans in 2025, where he recorded 5.0 sacks.
New York initially released defensive tackle Josh Tupou to clear a roster spot for Ward. The 32-year-old second-round pick from the 2016 draft brought size and versatility as a 6-foot-5, 285-pound rotational piece capable of aligning inside or on the edge. His recent snaps, however, did not produce the expected impact.
Ward had a particularly rough showing against the New Orleans Saints, as the Giants sought to recapture his form from last season under Wilson while addressing depth needs after Chauncey Golston landed on injured reserve (IR) with a neck injury.
Ward’s brief second stint ends with the Giants looking elsewhere for front-seven reinforcements. They are likely to fill the open roster by signing linebacker Trace Ford, who is out of elevations, from the practice squad.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Report: New York Giants releasing LB Jihad Ward