Examining the roster ties between Patriots, Giants ahead of preseason finale

Examining the roster ties between Patriots, Giants ahead of preseason finale
Pats Pulpit Pats Pulpit

Head coach Brian Daboll’s staff includes the likes of Mike Kafka, Carmen Bricillo, James Ferentz, Troy Brown, Bryan Cox and Cam Achord.

But additional connections between the New York Giants and New England Patriots can be found on the 90-man rosters. They will meet again at MetLife Stadium.

Here’s the list of current players who have spent time with both sides ahead of Thursday’s 8 p.m. ET preseason finale.

NEW YORK

Gunner Olszewski, wide receiver — The Giants re-signed the 28-year-old Olszewski as training camp opened in July. He made 10 appearances for the club in 2023, both as part of the practice squad and active roster, before spending last season on injured reserve. The former Division II defensive back out of Bemidji State entered the NFL as an undrafted tryout in Foxborough in 2019. From there, Olszewski outlasted the 53-man deadline as a rookie and went on to check into 37 games as a Patriot. He turned nine catches into 127 yards and a touchdown on offense. And on special teams, he returned 36 kickoffs for 834 yards to go with 66 punts for 834 yards and another touchdown. First-team All-Pro honors arrived in 2020. Olszewski departed for the Pittsburgh Steelers after not being tendered as a restricted free agent in 2022.

Lil’Jordan Humphrey, wide receiver — The 27-year-old Humphrey headed to East Rutherford in March. He originally entered the league with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted rookie in 2019. And in the gap between mandatory minicamp and training camp in 2022, the Texas product made his way to Foxborough. Humphrey led Patriots in preseason receptions before clearing waivers that summer. He would be a member of the 53-man roster and practice squad before being let go again, appearing in six games and catching two passes for 20 yards. Two campaigns with the Denver Broncos followed under his first NFL head coach, Sean Payton.

Chris Board, linebacker — The 30-year-old Board appeared in every game for the 2023 Patriots before being released in the offseason. He had recorded 10 tackles and tied for the lead on special teams with 407 snaps played by then. The three-time national champion out of North Dakota State originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2018. He circled back in 2024. A veteran of 114 games, 155 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery as well as four starts at linebacker, Board then agreed to terms with the Giants in March.

Jermaine Eluemunor, offensive tackle — Two years after being selected by the Ravens in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft, the former PFWA All-Rookie honoree by way of Lackawanna College and Texas A&M landed at Gillette Stadium. Eluemunor did so through a 2019 trade involving picks in the fourth and sixth rounds. He made 22 appearances on the offensive line during his stay, starting eight, before spending time with the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders. The...