The New York Giants on Wednesday reunited with veteran edge defender Jihad Ward, signing him off the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad as they look to replace production following Brian Burns' season-ending torn ACL.
The 32-year-old is returning to New York for a second stint after spending the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Giants. He appeared in all 34 games during that stretch, starting 20, and recorded 67 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and eight sacks. His five sacks in 2023 matched a career high.
The 6-foot-5, 285-pound defender has 10 NFL seasons behind him after being selected by the then-Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Ward has played 136 regular-season games with 49 starts and has accumulated 24 career sacks.
Ward spent the 2025 season with the Tennessee Titans, where he played under current Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. He started 12 of his 17 games that season and finished with 31 tackles, 22 quarterback hits and five sacks. The five sacks matched his career best, while his 22 quarterback hits were a career high.
Article Continues BelowThe veteran also has a connection to Giants head coach John Harbaugh, having played for him with the Baltimore Ravens in 2019 and 2020. Ward has played for seven NFL teams during his career.
Ward joined Minnesota's practice squad shortly before the 2026 season but had not appeared in a game for the Vikings through the first three weeks. The Giants have now added him to their active roster following Burns' injury.
To create space for Ward on the 53-man roster, New York terminated the contract of defensive tackle Josh Tupou. Tupou appeared in one game for the Giants this season and could potentially return to the practice squad.
Ward gives Wilson another experienced option along the defensive front. He can provide an inside-outside presence, although he has increasingly settled into an edge role during his career.