The Giants have spent the past few weeks losing four safeties and watching a fifth suffer a groin injury on Monday. But Big Blue finally added one, completing the expected move to bring veteran Stevie Brown back into the fold.
“Pretty exciting just being able to come back here,’’ said Brown, who played three seasons for the Giants, including an eight-interception debut campaign in 2012. He left for Houston in free agency, but after requesting his release on Saturday, Brown was back with the safety-starved Giants by Monday morning.
“[It] seems like a position of need and it’s a good fit, [so] definitely exciting to come back,’’ said Brown, who suited up and practiced Monday wearing No. 39. Between reps he stood next to safeties coach Dave Merritt getting up to speed, and said he is confident he can assimilate quickly.
“I’d like to think I can come around tomorrow. But realistically, it’s going to take a few days,” Brown said. “There’s a learning curve. But I’ll be good. … They’re just talking about coming in and competing and being able to fit in where I can get the opportunity.’’
There should be plenty of opportunity, with the Giants having already lost four safeties. Bennett Jackson, Mykkele Thompson and long-shot Justin Currie have all suffered season-ending injuries. Nat Berhe’s status is unclear after undergoing surgery on Saturday to remove a blood clot in his calf, and Jeromy Miles — who started Saturday’s game against the Jets — suffered a groin injury on Monday.
After the Giants drafted Landon Collins in the second round, the safety tandem was expected to be young. But with Collins and Cooper Taylor having missed time to injuries and Miles practicing with the second team Monday before getting hurt, there’s plenty of opportunity for veterans such as Brown, 28, and Brandon Meriweather, 31.
“With what’s gone on in the safety group, change is nothing new to us. You’ve just got to go and compete, and show the team you’re going to help this team win,’’ Taylor said. “That’s the only way you’re going to be able to make it.’’
Now Brown comes to the Bermuda Triangle of safeties.
“No, you know this is a good place — where I wanted to be once everything was set and done,’’ Brown said, even if it wasn’t the place he wanted to be this offseason.
After he suffered a Lisfranc injury, the Giants reportedly offered him the veteran minimum and he bolted for Houston. Brown said he was fully healthy for the first day of camp, but upon realizing he wasn’t a fit, asked for his release.
“I was just weighing out the options. It was no hard feeling towards here [or] anything like that,’’ Brown said. “As you can tell, I’m back now, so we definitely left everything on good terms.’’
Good enough terms that he has come back, despite never having played under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo yet.
“I hear nothing but good things [from] the guys that I’ve talked to. Since preseason has started they all like him,’’ said Brown. “In talking with coach Merritt, he was just explaining a little bit of the philosophy that he runs out here on defense. Even though I’ve mainly been known as a post player, I can still come down into the box here and do what I need to do. The safeties are interchangeable, so there might be something good I can do.’’