Jun 7, 2022; Thousand Oaks, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson (94) during minicamp at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Giants activating DT A’Shawn Robinson from PUP list

The New York Giants are activating defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson from the physically unable to perform list, coach Brian Daboll said Monday.

Daboll also confirmed that right tackle Evan Neal remains in the concussion protocol but will travel to Detroit for this week’s joint practices with the Lions.

The Giants signed Robinson, 28, to a one-year deal in free agency in April that is reportedly worth up to $8 million.

Robinson spent the past three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams following four seasons with the Detroit Lions.

The 6-foot-4, 330-pound lineman missed the last seven games in 2022 with a knee injury (torn meniscus). The 2016 second-round pick has 293 tackles, seven sacks, five forced fumbles and one interception (returned for a TD) in 93 games (61 starts).

Neal, 22, was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Alabama. He made 13 starts during his rookie year with the Giants.

The team said reserve OL Marcus McKethan was also activated from the PUP list.

New York plays its preseason opener at Detroit on Friday. The Giants open the regular season at home against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 10.

–Field Level Media

Dec 18, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA;  Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Keanu Neal (22) tackles Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers sign S Keanu Neal, NT Breiden Fehoko

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced the signings of safety Keanu Neal and three other players on Tuesday.

Neal inked a two-year contract and nose tackle Breiden Fehoko landed a one-year deal.

The team also re-signed safety Damontae Kazee for two years and tight end Zach Gentry for one year.

Neal, 27, recorded 63 tackles and one interception in 17 games (eight starts) with Tampa Bay last season.

A first-round pick by Atlanta in 2016 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2017, Neal has 473 tackles, three interceptions and eight forced fumbles in 80 games (61 starts) with the Falcons (2016-20), Dallas Cowboys (2021) and Buccaneers.

Fehoko, 26, appeared in 19 games (four starts) with the Los Angeles Chargers from 2020-22 and made 36 tackles.

Kazee, 29, has 271 tackles, 14 picks and seven forced fumbles in 78 games (53 starts) with the Falcons (2017-20), Cowboys (2021) and Steelers.

Gentry, 26, has 39 catches for 303 yards in 40 games (26 starts) since being drafted in the fifth round by Pittsburgh in 2019.

–Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) sacks New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) in the second half. The Giants fall to the Cowboys, 23-16, at MetLife Stadium on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022.

Nfl Ny Giants Vs Dallas Cowboys Cowboys At Giants

Giants without OT Evan Neal, other key linemen at Dallas

Daniel Jones might be thankful for five capable blockers at Dallas on Thursday after the New York Giants released their final injury report for the afternoon game with the Cowboys.

Offensive tackle Evan Neal did not travel to Texas and is out with a knee injury along with center Jon Feliciano (neck), guard Joshua Ezeudu (neck) and guard Shane Lemieux (toe).

Top tackle Andrew Thomas is listed as questionable due to illness. Head coach Brian Daboll remained optimistic Thomas could be ready Thursday.

“There were no physical exertion practices (this week). We’ll just take it right up, as long as we can take it,” Daboll said of a decision on his starting front five.

in the first meeting with Dallas this season, Jones was sacked five times by the Cowboys. The Cowboys are on a record pace through 10 games with 42 quarterback sacks.

New York is also without tight end Daniel Bellinger (eye), cornerback Adoree Jackson (knee) and safety Fabian Moreau (oblique).

The Giants (7-3) have lost two of their past three games. The Cowboys (7-3) ruled out linebacker Anthony Barr (hamstring) and defensive linemen Tarell Basham and Johnathan Hankins are questionable due to illness.

Pass rushers Micah Parsons (knee, ankle) and Demarcus Lawrence (foot, illness) were limited Wednesday and officially listed as questionable.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott (knee) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (ankle) were full participants in practice Wednesday. They were removed from the injury report.

–Field Level Media

Aug 13, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (2) runs the ball against Dallas Cowboys linebacker Keanu Neal (42) in the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports

Bucs add S Keanu Neal, re-sign QB Blaine Gabbert

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed veteran safety Keanu Neal and re-signed backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert on Wednesday.

Neal, a former Pro Bowler, has exceeded 100 tackles three times in his six-year career.

Neal spent his first five NFL seasons with the Atlanta Falcons — his Pro Bowl selection came in 2017 — before joining former Falcons head coach Dan Quinn in Dallas. Quinn, the defensive coordinator, moved Neal to linebacker and the latter had 72 tackles in 14 games (five starts) last season.

Overall, the 26-year-old Neal has 410 tackles, eight forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, two interceptions and two sacks in 63 games (53 starts).

Neal was a first-round pick (17th overall) in 2016 by the Falcons. He played college football at Florida.

Gabbert, 32, has seen action in 10 games over three seasons with the Buccaneers. He completed 16 of 27 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns while backing up Tom Brady the past two seasons.

Gabbert has played for five NFL teams and has a 13-35 record as a starter. He has thrown for 9,273 yards, 50 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.

Gabbert was the 10th overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011 and made 27 starts in three seasons with the team. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers (2014-16), Arizona Cardinals (2017) and Tennessee Titans (2018) before joining the Buccaneers.

Gabbert spent the 2019 season on injured reserve after his dislocating his left (non-throwing) shoulder in a preseason game.

–Field Level Media

Mar 3, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; North Carolina State offensive lineman Ickey Ekwonu  talks to the media during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine.  Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Ickey Shuffle: NC State OT pushes favorite for No. 1 pick

North Carolina State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu is closing on Alabama’s Evan Neal to be the favorite for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

“Ickey” Ekwonu met with the Jacksonville Jaguars at the NFL Scouting Combine last week on the same day the team met the 337-pound Neal.

NFL scouts praise Ekwonu, who nearly went to Harvard over NC State, for his high character, off-the-charts intelligence and punishing blocking style.

Neal remains the betting favorite to go first overall but Ekwonu closed the gap considerably and overtook Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson over the course of the combine in Indianapolis. The 320-pounder ran a 4.93 40-yard dash.

“I wouldn’t be shocked if I went No. 1 overall,” said Ekwonu in a media session at the combine on Thursday in Indianapolis. “I feel like that’s something I’ve put the work in for it. I feel like when that time comes, I wouldn’t be shocked by it.”

At BetMGM, Ekwonu opened at +10000 and rose to +120 on Monday. At the outset of the combine last week, Ekwonu was available at +850 at FanDuel.

Neal is the universal favorite and is +100 at FanDuel with Ekwonu +200 and Hutchinson +800.

Neal also leads at DraftKings (-110), where Ekwonu is also +200 and Hutchinson is +750.

Ekwonu is the No. 1 pick in mock drafts released by The Athletic (Dane Brugler) and ESPN’s Mel Kiper.

–Field Level Media

Mar 3, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Evan Neal during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Two OTs climb NFL draft boards

Jacksonville’s draft board might be the only one that matters when it comes to determining the No. 1 prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Jaguars select first in consecutive drafts after drafting Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence in 2021.

The scouting of draft pundits entering the NFL Scouting Combine is focusing on two offensive tackles, Alabama’s Evan Neal and North Carolina State’s Ikem Ekwonu. Edge pass rushers Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon) are also in the mix to be the No. 1 pick.

“I wouldn’t be shocked if I went No. 1 overall,” said Ekwonu in a media session at the combine on Thursday in Indianapolis. “I feel like that’s something I’ve put the work in for it. I feel like when that time comes, I wouldn’t be shocked by it.”

ESPN mock drafts pair Ekwonu with the Jaguars and The Athletic also touts the NC State blocker as the top pick in the 2022 draft.

Hutchinson and Thibodeaux are getting plenty of support elsewhere, as is Neal, who weighed in at 337 pounds — apparently all muscle based on his appearance in Indianapolis.

Neal will not participate in on-field workouts — opting instead for Alabama’s pro day on March 30 — but did sit down with head coach Doug Pederson and a contingent from Jacksonville’s front office on Tuesday night.

If he’s selected first overall, Neal would be the top pick out of Alabama in NFL draft history. Joe Namath was the No. 1 pick in the AFL draft in 1965.

“You have a whole lot of Alabama players that were worthy of having the No. 1 spot. If the stars align for that to be me, that would be extremely special.”

Ekwonu has played guard and tackle, and met with the Jaguars on Tuesday in Indianapolis, he said.

“I feel like I’m barely scratching the surface of my potential at left tackle, and I feel like with some work and some refinement in the my game, I can definitely be great at it.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Evan Neal (73) celebrates the win over the Cincinnati Bearcats after the 2021 Cotton Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama’s Evan Neal picking up support as No. 1 pick

When push comes to shove, the public believes the Jacksonville Jaguars will choose to protect franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence rather than make life more difficult on opposing signal-callers.

Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson remains the +165 favorite at BetMGM to be the first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, his odds have lengthened since opening at +100.

Meanwhile, Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal has seen his odds shorten from +2500 to +175 with the public backing him with 33.2 percent of the bets and 43.2 percent of the money wagered on the No. 1 pick. Neal started 40 games at Alabama across both tackle positions and left guard.

Neal has already overtaken Hutchinson at DraftKings, where the former Crimson Tide star is being offered at +120 to +200 for Hutchinson. Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux and North Carolina State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu are both being offered at +700.

Thibodeaux has been backed by the second-most money wagered at BetMGM with 13.7 percent of the handle at +350 odds. Hutchinson has been backed by 13.3 percent of the money and 15.7 percent of the bets to Thibodeaux’s 11.8 percent.

Ekwonu has been another rising name with several teams holding tops picks likely to be in the market for pass protectors. He opened at +10000 to be the No. 1 overall pick but is now being offered at +400 at BetMGM.

The Detroit Lions hold the No. 2 overall pick followed by the Houston Texans, New York Jets and New York Giants in the top five.

Lindy’s Pro Football Draft guide listed edge rusher and offensive tackle among the Jaguars’ three biggest needs entering the offseason. Edge rusher was also listed among the Lions’ and Texans’ top three needs, while the Giants could be looking at replacing up to four starters along their offensive line.

–Field Level Media

Aug 13, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds (2) runs the ball against Dallas Cowboys linebacker Keanu Neal (42) in the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys ILB Keanu Neal is game-time decision vs. 49ers

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Keanu Neal is a game-time decision for the NFC wild-card game against the visiting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said there is concern the inside linebacker won’t be ready to go due to a biceps strain.

McCarthy said Monday he expected Neal to be on the field without restrictions by the end of the week, but that didn’t happen. And on Friday, McCarthy said a decision on Neal’s status would “come down to the wire.”

Twice this season, the Cowboys have been without Neal due to positive COVID-19 tests. He most recently went on the COVID-19 list on Dec. 31.

Neal could be critical facing the 49ers’ power-running game and a passing offense that leans on tight end George Kittle.

If Neal is inactive, backups Luke Gifford and Francis Bernard would be called upon to play more significant roles.

–Field Level Media