Jihad Ward’s second stint with the Giants was short-lived.
The Giants released the veteran linebacker Tuesday, per multiple reports, after appearing in just two games.
The 32-year-old was signed off the Vikings’ practice squad in late September after Brian Burns suffered a season-ending ACL tear and played in each of Big Blue’s last two games, the tie with the Commanders in Week 5 and Sunday’s home loss to the Saints.
Ward, who played junior college ball for the defunct Garment District school Globe Institute of Technology before transferring to Illinois, made one tackle against Washington while playing 23 defensive snaps and four special teams snaps.
He did not record a tackle while playing 18 defensive snaps against New Orleans.
The Philadelphia native, a second-round pick (No. 44 overall) by the Raiders in 2016, has played for seven different teams across 11 NFL seasons.
He first joined the Giants in 2022, finishing with 43 tackles and three sacks while appearing in all 17 games and making 11 starts.
He also played in both of the Giants’ playoff games that season, when they beat the Vikings before losing to the Eagles in the Divisional Round.
The Giants brought Ward back for 2023, when he had 24 tackles and five sacks.
He then played for the Vikings in 2024 and the Titans last season.
