Pitt alum Dion Lewis signs with New York Giants

Pitt product Dion Lewis signed with the New York Giants on Monday, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN. The length of the contract is one year, but the value was not disclosed.

Lewis was cut by the Tennessee Titans on March 12 after a two-year stint in which he eventually fell behind Derrick Henry in the team’s backfield pecking order. More was expected of Lewis in Nashville, as the team signed him to a four-year, $20 million deal. However, the emergence of Henry, who rushed for 1,059 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2018, left little work for Lewis.

That season, Lewis amassed 517 rushing yards, 400 receiving yards and two total touchdowns, which was his second best NFL season to date. But he regressed last season, gaining just 373 yards from scrimmage and scoring one touchdown as Henry racked up 1,540 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.

With the Giants, Lewis will again play a secondary role, but this time around, that will be the plan. The team already has a rising star of its own in running back Saquon Barkley, and Lewis will serve as depth. Of course, the Giants targeted Lewis because Barkley missed three games last year, so he could see meaningful minutes either to lighten Barkley’s load or in the event he is forced out of action again.