The New York Giants may have suffered a significant special teams blow before training camp even begins. According to multiple reports, the team fears that wide receiver and return specialist Gunner Olszewski tore his Achilles during Friday's OTA practice at the team's training facility. Olszewski was carted off the field, and initial evaluations have the Giants braced for the worst.
If confirmed, the injury would be a season-ender for the 29-year-old veteran, who was competing for a roster spot as both a depth receiver and the team's primary punt and kick returner. The loss would create a void in an area where the Giants have invested considerable attention this offseason: the return game.
What Happened
Olszewski went down during a non-contact drill Friday afternoon, immediately grabbing at his lower leg. Medical staff rushed onto the field, and he was eventually carted off with his leg immobilized. While the Giants have not issued an official diagnosis yet, the early concern from within the building is a torn Achilles tendon--an injury that typically requires surgery and a recovery timeline of six to nine months.
The timing is brutal. OTAs are voluntary, but they serve as the foundation for position battles. For a player like Olszewski, who was entering the second year of a one-year deal signed last offseason, every rep mattered in his bid to secure a roster spot on a deep Giants wide receiver room. Now, instead of competing for a job, he faces a long rehabilitation road.
What Olszewski Brought to the Table
Olszewski has carved out a niche as one of the league's more reliable return men. The former All-Pro punt returner (2019 with the Patriots) has averaged 10.2 yards per punt return over his career and has scored two return touchdowns. He's not a game-breaking receiver--he has 87 career catches for 792 yards and three touchdowns--but he's a dependable depth piece who can run a limited route tree and contribute on all four downs of special teams.
For the Giants, Olszewski was expected to compete with Xavier Gipson and maybe even Calvin Austin III for the primary return duties. His veteran savvy and sure hands gave the coaching staff a known commodity in the return game--something that becomes even more critical when you're breaking in a rookie quarterback under center.
The Ripple Effect
The Giants' wide receiver room is arguably the deepest it's been in years. Malik Nabers is the clear WR1 and emerging star. Darius Slayton remains a reliable veteran outside presence. Darnell Mooney was brought in to add speed and route-running polish. Jalin Hyatt is entering a crucial third season where the Giants need him to take a leap. Isaiah Hodgins and Calvin Austin III provide quality depth.
Then there's the return game. Without Olszewski, the Giants' options in the punt return department narrow. Xavier Gipson, who handled returns with the Jets, becomes the frontrunner. Austin has return experience from his time in Pittsburgh. Even Malik Nabers has fielded punts in college, though New York is unlikely to risk their star receiver on special teams.
Kickoff returns are a different equation under the new rules. The Giants have Eric Gray, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary, all of whom have return experience. But losing a dedicated, high-IQ return specialist like Olszewski forces the coaching staff to think differently about roster construction. Do they keep an extra returner? Do they cross-train a younger receiver or defensive back?
The Bigger Picture
This injury comes as the Giants are navigating a quarterback competition between Jameis Winston and second-year Jaxson Dart. Special teams reliability becomes paramount when you're breaking in a new signal-caller. Field position matters. Hidden yardage matters. And Olszewski, for all his limitations as a wideout, was excellent at providing just that.
The Giants' special teams coordinator will now have to go back to the drawing board. The team has invested heavily in the return game in recent years, and losing a specialist of Olszewski's caliber--especially one who had already built chemistry with long snapper Zach Triner and punter Jordan Stout during OTAs--is a setback.
What's Next
Olszewski will undergo further testing in the coming days to confirm the diagnosis. An MRI is expected within 48 hours. If the Achilles tear is confirmed, the Giants will place him on injured reserve, which would officially end his 2026 season.
At that point, general manager Joe Schoen and the front office have a few options. They could look at the free-agent market for return specialists still available. They could also scan the waiver wire during training camp cuts for a player who can offer a similar skill set. Or they could simply trust the in-house options--Gipson, Austin, and potentially rookie Beaux Collins or Malachi Fields--to handle return duties.
The silver lining, if there is one, is that the injury happened in late May rather than August or September. The Giants have the entire summer to adjust their plans, evaluate return candidates in training camp, and potentially add a veteran off the street before the season starts.
A Veteran's Bounce-Back Journey
Olszewski's career has been defined by resilience. Undrafted out of Division II Bemidji State, he made the Patriots' roster as a rookie and earned first-team All-Pro honors. He's bounced between New England, Pittsburgh, and New York, always finding a way to stick because of his return ability and football IQ.
To see his season end before it even began--on a practice field in May during a non-contact drill--is cruel. But if anyone has the mentality to attack rehab and return, it's a player who has repeatedly proven the oddsmakers wrong.
Final Word
This story is still developing, and we'll have more as the Giants release official medical updates. For now, the organization holds its breath. Gunner Olszewski's season--and potentially his tenure with the Giants--hangs in the balance of an MRI machine.
One thing is certain: in a league where special teams margins are razor-thin, losing a return man of Olszewski's caliber hurts. The Giants will now have to find out whether their backup plan is ready for primetime.
We'll keep you posted.