The New York Giants agreed to a one-year deal with free-agent running back Najee Harris on Tuesday, league sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed to The Athletic. In a corresponding move, the Giants released veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster

The 28-year-old Harris, who suffered a torn Achilles in Week 3 last season as a member of the Los Angeles Chargers, worked out for the Giants on Monday and drew praise from coach John Harbaugh.

“He looked good in the workout,” Harbaugh said. “He’s not back to 100 percent; he’s not in football shape yet. So, if we are able to do something, it’ll be a process (for him). (That’s) a guy who has a lot of experience. He’s a decorated vet.”

The 6-foot-1, 242-pound Harris was a first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021 who posted four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons before leaving for the Chargers in 2025. Harris has averaged 3.9 yards per carry and scored 28 rushing touchdowns in his career. He has also proved to be an adept pass catcher, tallying 183 receptions, 1,174 yards and six touchdowns through the air. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021.

On Monday, the Giants put a waived/injured designation on running back Dante “Turbo” Miller, who suffered a groin injury in the team’s preseason opener. That left their running back room a bit thin, with Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary sitting atop the depth chart, and 2023 fifth-round pick Eric Gray also in reserve.

Skattebo and Tracy are still the most likely to serve as the team’s top two backs, though Tracy got himself into some trouble Saturday after failing to pick up a blitzer, who leveled quarterback Jaxson Dart for a sack. Harris now enters the equation as a running back who could push for touches once he is fully healthy.

As for Smith-Schuster, he was always a long shot to make the roster. The Giants signed the veteran in June, along with Odell Beckham Jr. and Braxton Berrios, when their receiver group was depleted by injuries. With Darius Slayton now back on the field and Malik Nabers trending in the right direction, Smith-Schuster became the odd man out.

Bill Belichick, entering a pivotal second season in Chapel Hill after a 4-8 debut, is going with a well-traveled veteran to lead North Carolina’s offense when the Tar Heels open the season against TCU in Ireland on Aug. 29.

Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr., in his sixth season of college football, has reportedly won a close preseason competition with Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill. ESPN first reported the news.

New UNC offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino recruited O’Neill to Texas A&M while on its staff in 2023, but the Tar Heels selected the more experienced quarterback. Edwards has appeared in 28 college games and made 16 starts between stops at Wake Forest, Maryland and Wisconsin.

O’Neill appeared in eight games in two seasons at Texas A&M and completed 12 of 20 attempts for 171 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Edwards had his best season at Maryland in 2024, completing 65 percent of his passes for 2,881 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions for a 4-8 team. He averaged 261.9 passing yards per game (second in the Big Ten to Dillon Gabriel) and had the best performance of his career in a 29-28 win over USC, completing 39 of 50 passes for 373 yards and accounting for three touchdowns.

Edwards’ physical running style could become an important part of Petrino’s offense — if he’s truly healthy. The 6-foot-3, 228-pound Virginia native has scored 13 career rushing touchdowns and was frequently used as Maryland’s short-yardage quarterback before becoming the full-time starter. He scored seven rushing touchdowns in 2023, including three 1-yard scores against Michigan.

Edwards transferred to Wisconsin before the 2025 season, but injured his left knee in the opener against Miami (Ohio). He returned against Maryland three weeks later and exited during Wisconsin’s second drive. He did not play again and finished the season with 113 passing yards on 16 attempts. He received an additional season of eligibility after appearing in only two games.

If Edwards is healthy and resembles the quarterback who threw for nearly 2,900 yards at Maryland in 2024, North Carolina could be substantially better on offense. If the knee limits his mobility or the Tar Heels struggle against TCU, O’Neill could get an opportunity to run the show.