Giants Place Demps on IR; Release 21 Including Hasselbeck

Sep 2, 2007, 0:10 GMT

East Rutherford, NJ - The New York Giants placed safety Will Demps on season-ending injured reserve Saturday, also releasing backup quarterback Tim Hasselbeck among 21 cuts and trading reserve running back Ryan Grant to shave its roster to 52 players.

Demps, who started every game for the Giants last year, amassing 100 tackles, two interceptions and a sack, suffered a dislocated elbow in a preseason game against Baltimore Aug. 19th. Demps was expected to serve as a backup behind James Butler this season.

Hasselbeck spent the past two seasons on the New York roster as a backup, but was squeezed out of the position when the Giants acquired Anthony Wright in the offseason and decided to keep Jared Lorenzen on the roster. The brother of Seattle Seahawks starter Matt Hasselbeck, the Boston College product started five games for the Washington Redskins in 2003.

Grant, who rushed 18 times for 90 yards and a touchdown in the preseason, was dealt to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for an undisclosed draft choice. The former Notre Dame rusher was originally signed by the G-Men as a rookie free agent in 2005.

In addition to Hasselbeck, other Giants released on Saturday were defensive tackle Tui Alailafaleula, cornerback Darren Barnett, tight end Charles Davis, linebacker James Davis, defensive end Tommy Davis, offensive lineman Jon Dunn, defensive end Marquis Gunn, kicker Josh Huston, offensive lineman Justin Jones, offensive lineman Ryan Keenan, offensive lineman Matt Lentz, wide receiver Brandon London, offensive lineman Todd Londot (waived/injured), wide receiver Kevin McMahan, cornerback Gerrick McPhearson, punter Cory Ohnesorge, safety J.R. Reed, defensive tackle Jonas Seawright, linebacker Tyson Smith and cornerback E.J. Underwood.

Of that group, notables include Reed, the former Eagles and Rams defensive back and return man; Seawright, who appeared in nine games with New York last season; and Smith, who made three appearances as a Giant in 2006.

New York is currently one player under the 53-man NFL maximum.

The Giants will open their season on Sept. 9 at Texas Stadium, when they take on the Dallas Cowboys in a primetime affair.

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