Giants are thin at tight end, but have options

The Giants kept just two tight ends of their 53-man roster. Neither of them is known for being a terrific blocker, although Kevin Boss has certainly made strides in that regard over his career with the Giants. Is that an area of concern for Tom Coughlin?

It is, he said, but the key to the decision is Travis Beckum.

“What’s really important for us is: Can Beckum go in and practice and stay out there?,” Coughlin said. “That’s a big factor. We’ll see.”

So far this summer he has not been able to do that. He caught one pass for 7 yards in the preseason games. He worked one day last week coming back from a neck injury but then returned to the sideline. I don’t have an official count, but I’d be willing to bet that even Ronnie Lott can count the number of full practices this summer for Travis Beckum on one hand.

That’s not good for a guy who, coming into camp, the Giants were hoping to get a lot of time with to improve his blocking.

Of course the Giants do have options. They have offensive linemen who can play as a run-blocking tight end like Will Beatty or Rich Seubert. And they have two traditional blocking tight ends on the practice squad in Bear Pascoe and Jake Ballard who, as Coughlin noted, “are just an u-down away.”

But for now the Giants have just the two tight ends. At least they hope.