Big Blue View
Spring practices did not really give us any hints on how the New York Giants will replace kick returner/punt returner/reserve wide receiver Gunner Olszewski, lost for the season to a torn Achilles tendon. We did review some of the options back in May, immediately after Olszewski’s injury. Let’s take an updated look at the situation with training camp almost here.
Berrios was signed by the Giants on June 1, one of three wide receivers the Giants added after the Olszewski injury. In both skillset and experience, Berrios is the closest 1:1 potential replacement for Olszewski on the 90-man roster.
A seven-year veteran, Berrios has handled similar responsibilities to Olszewski. Berrios has handled 100 punt returns in his career, for an impressive 11.3 yards per return average. On kickoffs, he has a 24.9-yard average on 91 returns. As a receiver, he has 140 catches, with a career-best of 46 with the New York Jets in 2021. He was a First-Team All-Pro that year, averaging 13.1 yards on punt returns and 30.4 on kickoff returns.
The question for Berrios will be whether back-to-back injury-plagued seasons have taken some quickness and explosion away from him. Berrios suffered a torn ACL with the Miami Dolphins in 2024 and dealt with hamstring injuries while playing for the Houston Texans last season. He played in only 10 games over those two years.
Where he could fit: Punt return, kickoff return, wide receiver depth
I almost didn’t put Banks on the list. If he is on the roster, which seems a safe bet provided he is healthy, Banks has to be part of the kickoff return tandem after what he did a season ago. After never having returned kickoffs before, Banks averaged 32.7 yards on 19 returns, second in the NFL in yards per return. No matter how good he ends up being at cornerback, Banks’ newfound success returning kickoffs could significantly extend his career.
Where he could fit: Kickoff return
Before the signing of Berrios, Austin looked like the first option to replace Olszewski as the punt returner. He could still emerge with that role. Austin had an 8.9-yard average on 73 punt returns in three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Whether the Giants want to use him on punt return might be impacted by how much they rely on him as a slot receiver. Austin has no experience returning kickoffs.
Where he could fit: Punt return
Tracy is one of the Giants’ playmakers. Rightly or not, he is probably going to get the short end of a running back time share with Cam Skattebo. The Giants have dabbled with using him as a kickoff returner the past seasons (eight returns, 24.1 yards per return). Using him in that role would be a way to put the ball in his hands on a few additional occasions.
Tracy has practiced as a punt returner, but hasn’t done that in an NFL game.
**Where he could...
