Giants re-sign wide receiver Hagan

When the Giants were putting their final roster together in September, Derek Hagan was one of the last names left off the list. The team thought it could replace him at receiver with Victor Cruz and on special teams with Duke Calhoun, both undrafted rookies. Hagan was one of the more surprising cuts the team made.

But now with Cruz already on injured reserve, Steve Smith nursing a partially torn pectoral muscle for the next few weeks, and Ramses Barden suffering a season-ending ankle injury on Sunday, the Giants have brought Hagan back. He was one of the last players taken off the roster, but when they needed a receiver he was one of the first the team contacted.

Hagan signed a one-year contract with the Giants after a workout Tuesday and, given his knowledge of the Giants' offensive system and familiarity with Eli Manning, he likely will be on the field Sunday night in a crucial game against the Eagles. Barden was placed on injured reserve to make room for Hagan.

The injuries left the Giants with only three healthy receivers - Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham, both starting-caliber players, and Calhoun, who has never had an NFL pass thrown in his direction. With Hagan, the Giants will get a player who is comfortable with their offense and can also contribute on special teams.

Hagan played in 16 games for the Giants last year, mostly on special teams, although he did catch eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. He spent the first two years of his career with the Dolphins.

The Giants also signed defensive tackle Dwayne Hendricks to their practice squad, another player cut at the start of the season. He was on the Giants' practice squad for 10 weeks in 2009. He replaces Nate Collins, who was signed off the Giants' practice squad by the Jaguars this weekend.

Before cutting Hagan, Coughlin called him "a tough guy" during training camp when he was playing hurt.

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"He's had things that have been problems for him but he finds a way to fight his way through it because he knows he has to," Coughlin said in August up in Albany. "He stays out there when other guys are done and fights like heck and he'll end up with a job."

It just took him a few months - and a few injuries to others - to get it back.