Elerson Smith #58, Giants rookie linebacker, heads off the field after a day of training camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, NJ on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. Credit: James Escher
Elerson Smith missed out on his last season of college football because of COVID-19. He nearly lost his first season in the NFL to it, too.
Smith, a rookie fourth-round pick, was activated off injured reserve in time to make his pro debut and play two special teams snaps in Sunday’s win over the Raiders, but there were days leading up to that decision when he wasn’t sure it would happen.