The “final’’ cuts on Saturday gave way to the waiver process and the Giants on Sunday claimed and were awarded defensive tackle Robert Thomas, who had been cut a day earlier by the Panthers.
The move means Thomas, 25, is on the Giants’ 53-man roster. He takes the place of defensive tackle Montori Hughes, who was with the Giants last season and throughout this spring and summer and made it through the last cut-down day, but not through the weekend.
The Giants no doubt were and still are looking to bolster their shaky depth on the offensive line, but the market was not inspiring, as only two offensive linemen throughout the league were claimed off waivers. Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton, a surprise cut by the Packers, is reportedly visiting the Bears and then the Saints.
Thomas was not drafted out of Arkansas in 2014 and is well-traveled. He was originally signed by the Redskins and spent time on their practice squad and in 2014 was on the roster for one game, but was inactive. He has been on the practice squads with the Seahawks and Patriots and was put on injured reserve last December by the Dolphins with a right elbow injury. He played in one game for the Dolphins last season. He was most recently with the Panthers through the preseason.
Hughes, a massive 350-pound run-stopper with three years of NFL experience, had a solid summer but the Giants opted to replace him with Thomas, who is 6-foot-3 and 325 pounds.
Running back Andre Williams, a 2014 fourth-round pick from Boston College, was the only Giants player claimed off waivers.
Williams was awarded to the Chargers.
The Giants put together their practice squad with 10 players who were with them in training camp and the preseason before they were recent cuts. The most notable is receiver Geremy Davis, a 2015 sixth-round draft pick from UConn. Linebacker Ishaq Williams, from Brooklyn and Notre Dame, also was kept in the building.
Also signed to the practice squad: WR Darius Powe, OL Adam Gettis, CB Donte Deayon, CB Michael Hunter, OL Shane McDermott, safety Andrew Adams, QB Logan Thomas and DE Stansly Maponga.