Giants rookie WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton out for season with ACL injury

The New York Giants lost a rookie for the season this week. Undrafted free agent Bryce Ford-Wheaton suffered an ACL tear and moved to the injured reserve over the weekend, effectively ending his first season in the league, Brian Daboll revealed.

Ford-Wheaton, a standout from West Virginia, recorded two catches for 24 yards in the preseason prior to his injury. On top of his receiving ability, the former Mountaineer was also showing the Giants he could be an asset on special teams.

To reduce their roster ahead of the deadline on Tuesday, New York made a series of roster moves on Sunday. They waived running back James Robinson, defensive tackle Kevin Atkins, defensive back Darren Evans, defensive tackle Donovan Jeter and wide receiver Collin Johnson.

The Giants also cut five more – tackles Julien Davenport and Korey Cunningham, defensive tackle Brandin Bryant, defensive end Tashawn Bower, and wide receiver Jaydon Mickens.

On Thursday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the Arizona Cardinals traded linebacker Isaiah Simmons to the Giants for a 2024 seventh-round draft pick.

Giants’ Ford-Wheaton out

In the 2022 season, Ford-Wheaton started all 12 games at wide receiver, hauling in 62 catches for 675 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. He led the Mountaineers in both catches and receiving touchdowns, while ranking second on the roster in receiving yards. Following the season, he reeled in second team All-Big 12 honors from the league’s coaches and Phil Steele. One of his best games of the 2022 campaign and his college football career, came against the Kansas Jayhawks, when he hauled in 11 catches for 152 receiving yards, while pulling in two touchdowns.

During the 2021 campaign, Ford-Wheaton posted solid numbers, even if they weren’t quite as good as his 2022 stats. He played in 12 games at wide receiver, starting nine of them. The 6-foot-3, 224-pound wideout once again ranked among the best on the team in three important stat categories: second in catches (42), second in receiving yards (575), and third in touchdown catches (3).

During the 2020 season, he started all nine games for the Mountaineers, hauling in 27 catches and 416 receiving yards and three touchdowns. There was something about the Kansas Jayhawks that brought out the best in him. He earned WVU Offensive Player of the Week honors after hauling in five catches for 89 receiving yards and a touchdown. He also became the first player in WVU history to wear the No. 0.

On3’s Wade Peery contributed to this report.