Peyton Hillis was signed by the Giants on Wednesday.
Credit: Getty Images
The Giants’ ailing running back corps is about to get a Madden cover boy.
The team inked former Broncos, Browns and Chiefs running back Peyton Hillis Wednesday after bringing him in for a workout on the team’s off day Tuesday.
Hillis was with the Buccaneers this preseason, but was cut before the regular season began.
“I firmly believe I never had too much of an opportunity after I left Cleveland,” Hillis said. “I was behind Jamaal Charles at Kansas City. I didn’t get too much playing time. I felt when I got in I did well, and then I was in Tampa and never really got to touch the field because of Doug Martin. He’s pretty good. I’m just here to do whatever I can to help the team win. I think that this is a good team that can turn it around.”
The Giants are incredibly banged up at the running back position with starter David Wilson out with a neck injury, Andre Brown on injured reserve with a fractured leg and even Brandon Jacobs dealing with a hamstring injury.
Jacobs did not practice Monday, but the Giants hope he will be ready to go Monday night against Minnesota. Wilson met with a doctor in California on Monday about the possibility he is suffering from spinal stenosis. However, he was told he would not need surgery and should be back in a few weeks.
The team also waived/injured Da’Rel Scott on Tuesday after he suffered a hamstring injury against the Bears last Thursday.
Rookie seventh-round pick Michael Cox was the only healthy running back at the team’s last practice, but Cox has yet to play this season. Head coach Tom Coughlin said on Monday Cox could see time against the Vikings even though he is still learning the offense.
Hillis looked like a breakout star for the Browns after being traded there for Brady Quinn in 2010. He rushed for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first season in Cleveland and won a fan vote to grace the cover of the video game Madden NFL 12. But he sparred with management over a new contract in 2011 and dealt with injuries in a difficult season. He finished with just 587 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games.
He had just 309 yards on 85 rushes in his one year with the Chiefs last season.
Follow Metro New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports.
