Is Gary Brightwell's New York Giants Roster Spot in Jeopardy?

Gary Brightwell, Running Back

Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 218 pounds
2022 Stats: GP 17 / GS 0, 31 rushes, 141 yards (4.5 average), 1 TD, 5 receptions, 39 yards (7.8 average)

The New York Giants backfield may have been characterized by the mightier contributions of Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida in 2022, but don’t be hasty to forget some of the important plays made by fellow ball carrier Gary Brightwell.

Brightwell, a Chester, Pennsylvania native, joined the Giants in 2021 when he was selected 196th overall by the organization in that year’s draft. Before that, he was a four-year player at the University of Arizona, where he rushed for over 1,300 yards and nine touchdowns with the Wildcats.

Much of Brightwell’s rookie season was marred by a neck injury, which landed him on the injured reserve list in late December 2021. He appeared in 13 games but only collected ten total yards of production and remained a face on the sidelines during a woeful 4-13 campaign for Big Blue.

With uncertainty looming at the position deriving from the state of Barkley after his consecutive injuries in the prior two seasons, Brightwell hung around for the 2022 outing and served as a more productive reinforcement. 

He logged 31 carries for 141 yards and his first career rushing touchdown, which came in Week 5 against Green Bay. The passing effort added another five receptions and 39 yards to his resume, but that finished last among Giants receivers.

As training camp looms again in a few months, Brightwell's pressure is even higher to retain his roster spot as the position has new competition. Barkley is currently on the non-exclusive franchise tag but is seeking a new deal with the Giants, and the team resigned veteran Matt Breida to a one-year contract in March to have him continue serving as the former’s backup.

However, New York also drafted Oklahoma running back Eric Gray in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft to add reinforcements for the future. Gray was a stud at the University of Tennessee before transferring to the Sooners in 2021, and the scouting reports raved about his technical and mental prowess, physicality in the gaps, and creativity in the open field as a receiver.

The Giants did not invest a high draft pick on Gray at 172nd overall, but if he’s able to flash some of his abilities in camp and the preseason and draw the awe of the coaching staff as a future piece, it could spell trouble for Brightwell on the other side. There are also uncertainties with devoting roster space to other positions, which could create a “stay or go” situation for the less lucrative players like Brightwell down the road.

Best Case Scenario

One of the saving graces for Brightwell is that his newest competitor in Gray is a rookie. The 23-year-old may have shined at the collegiate level with three seasons of at least 539 yards and four touchdowns spanning two different schools, and that could have lured him to New York to bolster the backfield when Saquon Barkley is on the sidelines.

Yet, there is the potential that the Oklahoma back’s transition to the NFL level of competition isn’t immediate, and a slight learning period is necessary to upgrade his intangibles to the new system. If that’s the case, Brightwell could earn a roster spot based on his experience and, likewise, some time to prove he’s a piece to keep around.

When he’s on the field, Brightwell could see snaps on late-down, short-distance scenarios where the Giants need to give Barkley a breather and want to attack the ground.

At 218 pounds, he could be the extra back to pound the pigskin over the first down marker or even churn big yards up the middle with his size and strength dragging a couple of defenders in the way. The passing game is an option, too, but his teammates in Barkley and Matt Breida, also have that skill set.

Worst Case Scenario

The Giants liked Eric Gray enough to use a late-round pick on him instead of focusing on closing one of their bigger needs, but his presence alone shouldn’t be the only concern for Brightwell this summer.

Aside from his running game numbers, the 26-year-old was abysmal in the kickoff return realm. He averaged 21.3 yards per return over 26 attempts last fall which didn’t even break the top 50 players around the NFL. It was another element concerning the special teams unit for Big Blue that ranked in the league's bottom half and could be removed from him in 2023.

Brightwell could also become a roster casualty due to the Giants electing to retain players at other positions within the offense. The team has a ton of wide receivers, tight ends, and offensive linemen to sift through training camp, with the first and last roles being crucial for them. For example, if they elect to keep six receivers or ten offensive linemen, that prioritization could be doom for the running back on the fringe.

For Brightwell, the hope is that he only loses his special teams role after a disappointing effort in 2022. He has to show out in training camp and beyond to avoid a more serious fate.

What to Expect in 2023

Compared to other players on the roster with more definitive fates, Gary Brightwell's hangs in the balance as things unfold with the roster over the summer. His statistics and effort in special teams over the last two seasons don’t do him justice, but he could slip into a spot in 2023 with the NFL experience he already has in his pocket.

Hopefully, if he makes the roster, he can clean some things up to offer him a greater chance at playing time this season. He certainly hasn’t put the Giants’ offense in terrible positions in his tenure with New York, but he needs to bring more to the table to maintain his future there.