Paulson Adebo Returns to Giants Practice as His IR Window Opens

Oct 21

3 min read

Updated: 6 minutes ago

Published Oct 21, 2026, 2:11 PM ET | By Vincent Rapisardi

Key points

Paulson Adebo (knee) returned to Giants practice Wednesday as his window to come off injured reserve opened, per Dan Duggan.
Adebo has appeared in one game this season and has been on injured reserve since Sept. 18.
Greg Newsome II left the Saints loss with a concussion, and Colton Hood missed it with one.

Paulson Adebo returned to the Giants' practice field Wednesday, his first work since a knee injury sidelined him after the season opener. The team opened his practice window, The Athletic's Dan Duggan reported, starting his path back from injured reserve.

Duggan's report was shared by Big Blue Film Room on X. As our post noted, "The highly paid cornerback has appeared in just one game for the Giants this season."

The Giants placed Adebo on injured reserve on Sept. 18, according to the team's transaction log. They have played five games without him, including Sunday's loss we recapped in Giants vs Saints Final Score: Comeback Falls Short in 34-27 Loss.

Why Paulson Adebo's Return Matters for the Giants

The timing is pointed. Starting cornerback Greg Newsome II left the Saints game in the third quarter for a concussion evaluation and was ruled out, according to Sports Illustrated.

Rookie cornerback Colton Hood was already inactive with a concussion, and safety Tyler Nubin sat out with a neck injury. Dennard Wilson's defense finished the afternoon thin on the back end.

Adebo would add experience to that group. He brings 63 career starts and 11 career interceptions, per Giants.com.

Opening the window starts a 21-day clock. The Giants can activate Adebo at any point in that span once they judge the knee ready.

By the Numbers: Paulson Adebo's Recent Seasons

Season	Games (starts)	Tackles / Passes defensed
2023 (Saints)	15 (15)	76 / 18
2025 (Giants)	12 (12)	73 / 8
2026 (Giants)	1 (0)	3 / 0
Career	65 (63)	330 / 51

Source: Giants.com career stats for Paulson Adebo.

Paulson Adebo's Contract Raises the Giants' Stakes

Adebo is the biggest investment in the Giants' cornerback room. He signed a three-year deal worth up to $54 million in March 2025, with $38.5 million guaranteed, ESPN reported. The Saints had drafted him in the third round in 2021.

He started all 12 games he played in his first Giants season, with one interception. His best year came in 2023 with New Orleans, when his 18 passes defensed ranked third in the NFL, per Giants.com.

The caveat is durability. Adebo's 2024 season ended after seven games with a broken femur, according to ESPN, and this knee injury has now cost him five more.

A practice window is also not a return. Duggan's report did not say how much Adebo did on Wednesday or whether he is in line to play this week.

What Comes Next for Adebo and the Giants

The 3-2-1 Giants visit the Houston Texans on Sunday, then reach their Week 8 bye. That schedule lets the staff take a week of practice reps before deciding, with extra rest available behind it.

If Newsome and Hood are not cleared this week, Adebo's progress becomes one of the key Giants storylines before Sunday.

Houston will also see a new Giants quarterback. We covered that decision in Giants to Start JJ McCarthy vs Texans After Fourth-Quarter Rally.

Our Take: Paulson Adebo Could Be Dennard Wilson's Next Fix

I've given Dennard Wilson a lot of credit for reviving Jevon Holland and Deonte Banks. My hope is that Paulson Adebo is next.

Holland has three interceptions and Banks one, per Pro Football Reference. Adebo, one of the Giants' highest-paid defenders, has played in one game this season.

His timing helps. Greg Newsome II left the Saints game with a concussion and Colton Hood missed it with one, so the Giants need healthy corners now.

Opening the window doesn't mean he plays Sunday. But if Wilson's system works for Adebo the way it has for Holland and Banks, he could turn the secondary into a strength.

That would also change the Giants' plans at cornerback for 2027. A healthy, productive Adebo is worth far more than a player on injured reserve.

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