Giants hit with brutal update on 10-year veteran defensive lineman

The New York Giants suffered a stinging blow during Thursday’s OTA practice when veteran defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris tore his Achilles tendon, an injury that is expected to keep him out for the entire 2026 season. The injury occurred during the team’s third OTA session while practicing indoors because of rain.

Robertson-Harris was taking first-team reps before reaching for the back of his right leg and limping off the field. The 32-year-old defensive tackle was projected to play a pivotal role in a rebuilt defensive front following New York’s decision to trade Dexter Lawrence II to the Cincinnati Bengals last month.

The loss is substantial because Robertson-Harris was one of the few experienced players remaining on the Giants defensive line. The 6-foot-7, 300-pound lineman started all 17 games for New York in 2025, primarily lining up at defensive end in the team’s three-man front as a B-gap defender and 5-technique. He recorded 35 tackles, including three tackles for loss, along with six quarterback hits last season.

Robertson-Harris was entering the second and final season of the two-year contract he signed with the Giants during the 2025 offseason. The deal was worth around $9 million, and he is scheduled to count $5.75 million against New York’s 2026 salary cap, accounting for 1.9% of the team’s total cap space.

The injury comes during Robertson-Harris’ 10th NFL season. Since entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of UTEP, he has appeared in 134 career games with 79 starts while playing for the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, and Giants. Across his career, he has garnered 246 tackles and 19 sacks.

New York had already spent the offseason attempting to rebuild its defensive line depth after moving on from Lawrence. The Giants added veterans DJ Reader, Shelby Harris, Leki Fotu, Sam Roberts, and Zacch Pickens, while also relying on second-year lineman Darius Alexander and sixth-round rookie Bobby Jamison-Travis.

Alexander reportedly saw increased reps immediately after Robertson-Harris exited practice, while Shelby Harris is viewed as another leading candidate to fill the vacant role. Roberts, meanwhile, is recovering from offseason surgery but is expected to be ready for training camp in July.

Robertson-Harris became the second Giants in two weeks to suffer a torn Achilles, joining undrafted rookie cornerback Thaddeus Dixon.

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