The Giants needed to add a running back with the loss of Andre Brown to a broken leg and they signed not one, but two of them: Ryan Torain and Kregg Lumpkin.
To make room on the roster, offensive lineman Selvish Capers was waived and is expected to sign back to the practice squad. Capers last week was signed off the practice squad.
Torain, 26, is the more accomplished player. He was with the Broncos in 2008 but he spent the past two years with the Redskins, meaning the Giants know him well. In 2010, the 6-1, 218-pound Torain got 164 rushing attempts, gained 742 yards and scored four touchdowns. The Giants brought him in for a look last week during the bye. Since the Giants face the Redskins on Monday night, Torain might be able to provide some inside information.
Torain has appeared in 20 NFL games with 13 starts and has career totals of 238 rushing attempts for 1,011 yards (4.2-yard average), a long run of 54 yards and six touchdowns. He also has 24 receptions for 148 yards (6.2-yard average) and two TDs.
Lumpkin, 28, most recently was on the Seahawks roster. He’s a four-year NFL veteran. Undrafted, he entered the league in 2008 with the Packers out of the University of Georgia. Lumpkin spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons with the Buccaneers and played two games this season for the Seahawks. Last season, he ran the ball 31 times for 105 yards for the Bucs. Lumpkin did show a flair for catching the ball out of the backfield, as he had 41 receptions for 291 yards for the Bucs in 2011. He’s also reputed to be solid in pass protection and fills in as depth behind Ahmad Bradshaw and rookie David Wilson, the only other halfbacks on the roster.
At 5-11 and 228 pounds, he’s in the big back mold, which is the role Brown filled for the Giants. Brown broke his left fibula in the 38-10 victory over the Packers. Brown is on short-term Injured Reserve but could not come back before the Super Bowl at the earliest.
Lumpkin was part of a running back tryout held Tuesday, attended by veterans Cadillac Williams, Ryan Grant and Ryan Torain. Lumpkin first visited with the Giants during the bye week.