It is rare to be able to find one offensive lineman who has more experience than the combined résumés of all five projected starters, but the Giants pulled it off Wednesday with the signing of Adam Snyder, a former 49er entering his 10th NFL season.
The Giants believed they did enough work in the offseason to improve the quality and depth of their offensive line, but injuries hit and the need arose for additional tinkering.
Snyder takes the roster spot belonging to one of his former teammate at the University at Oregon, guard Geoff Schwartz, who was placed on injured reserve/designated to return.
Schwartz suffered a dislocated right big toe in the Aug. 22 preseason game against the Jets. He does not need surgery, but the Giants are not certain when he will be able to return.
The short-term IR can be used on only one player and it means Schwartz is eligible to practice in six weeks and cannot play in a game until after Week 8. His first possible game is Nov. 3 against the Colts.
Snyder, 32, spent eight of his nine seasons with the 49ers, where he was a 2005 third-round draft pick. The 6-foot-6, 325-pound Snyder did not make the 49ers’ roster this summer, waived last week during the final cut down to 53 players.
Snyder has started at every position on the line but works best as a guard, a spot that has been problematic for the Giants.
They lost Geoff Schwartz, the starter at left guard, with a dislocated right big toe. Brandon Mosley, moved into the starting right guard spot after the retirement of Chris Snee, is out with a back issue but it expected to return to practice on Thursday.
The Giants moved rookie Weston Richburg — a natural center taken in the second round of the draft — into Schwartz’s spot at left guard and put former Dolphin John Jerry in at right guard in place of Mosley.
The 49ers believed Snyder’s best days are behind him. He has played in 137 games, starting 87 — 28 at right guard, 14 at left guard, 21 at right tackle, 21 at left tackle and three at center.
He spent his first seven seasons with the 49ers before starting 14 games in 2012 for the Cardinals. He re-signed with the 49ers and started four games last season.
This signing provides the Giants with some experienced depth, something they did not have last season when the offensive line went into meltdown mode.
Snyder has started more NFL games than the combined totals of Mosley (one), Richburg (zero), J.D. Walton (36), Will Beatty (47) and Justin Pugh (16), the group that might start in the opener.
The Giants filled their remaining two spots on the practice squad, signing TE Jerome Cunningham — who was with the team in the summer — and DT Dominique Hamilton, who was with the Chiefs this preseason.