Giants promote Malik Harrison to the 53 and add Dawuane Smoot to the practice squad

The New York Giants signed linebacker Malik Harrison to the active roster from the practice squad and added veteran outside linebacker Dawuane Smoot to the practice squad on Tuesday, the club announced.

Harrison stays after three elevations

Harrison joined the Giants’ practice squad 10 days before the season opener and was elevated for each of the first three games. He played 56 special-teams snaps (84.8 percent of the team’s total) with two tackles and a fumble recovery on the opening kickoff of the Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans. Under league rules, a third elevation is the last before a club must add a player to the 53-man roster for further use.

The 6-foot-3, 245-pound Ohio State product has played 90 career games (43 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens (2020–24), Pittsburgh Steelers (2025) and Giants. A third-round pick by Baltimore in 2020, he has 181 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, two sacks and 36 special-teams tackles.

Smoot bolsters the edge depth

Smoot (6-3, 275) has played 127 regular-season games with 27 career sacks, 73 quarterback hits and 35 tackles for loss. Eight of his nine NFL seasons came with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2017–23, 2025); he also played for the Bills in 2024. His 25.5 sacks with Jacksonville rank 10th in franchise history. He was a third-round pick (No. 68) in 2017 and overlapped at Illinois with Jihad Ward, who rejoined the Giants on October 10.

The moves add depth to a front seven that recently lost Chauncey Golston and Brian Burns to injured reserve. New York hosts the New Orleans Saints this week.