The New York Giants could field one of the NFL’s most formidable edge rusher groups this season—but that depth spells trouble for 2025 signee Victor Dimukeje, who may not make the final roster.
When Dimukeje joined the Giants in March, he was seen as a direct replacement for departed free-agent Azeez Ojulari. But as the offseason progressed, New York struck gold in the draft with Penn State standout Abdul Carter, and also picked up free agent Chauncey Golston to play on the edge. To complicate matters, Dimukeje suffered a torn pec in early May, putting him out for spring workouts.
With Carter, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux already locked in—and Golston inked to a three-year, $18 million deal—cutting Golston isn’t an option. That leaves Dimukeje facing a tough climb to stick around, unless his special teams value saves him.
Could injury actually help him stay?
Ironically, sitting out camp could work in his favor. If Dimukeje misses training camp and preseason, the Giants could place him on the PUP list and retain him through roster cuts under new rules. Rumors suggest he may return for camp, but that could reduce this roster loophole option.
Still, as a competitive athlete, Dimukeje will want to push his recovery and show what he can do on the field—not just hope to sneak onto the roster via injury protection.
Special Teams Might Be His Best Path
Dimukeje’s best shot at making the Giants comes via special teams. During his stint with Arizona, he played in 838 defensive snaps and 943 special teams snaps. Pro Football Focus rated him above 70.0 on special teams from 2022 to 2024, and he accumulated 11 solo ST tackles and three assists in that span, with only four missed tackles.
The battle is fierce, though. The Giants have several backup linebackers with strong special teams pedigree. In recent roster predictions, Giants beat reporter Ed Valentine projected the cuts of inside linebackers and core special teamers Demetrius Flannigan‑Fowles, Ty Summers, and Dyontae Johnson, keeping Darius Muasau and Chris Board as ST-focused backups. But he expects that at least one of the projected cuts could land on the practice squad, adding another layer of competition.
Bottom line: Despite his early-season injury, Dimukeje’s path to a roster spot depends heavily on his special teams play and how the PUP-list rules wind up influencing the final roster decisions.
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