The Giants waived Downs on Tuesday, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Downs managed to start for the Giants in eight games last year as he finished the season with 33 tackles (25 solo) and one fumble recovery. The Giants' offseason addition of Reggie Ragland and Carter Coughlin's switch to the inside linebacker position ultimately pushed Downs off the depth chart.

Downs re-signed with the Giants this week, Michael Eisen of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Downs, who's spent the past two seasons with the team, will stay in New York and continue to contribute on special teams and add depth at linebacker. The 2017 seventh-round pick totaled a career-high 33 tackles (25 solo) and a pass breakup through his 16 games in 2020 and will now aim to build on those numbers in 2021.

The Giants did not tender Downs, making him an unrestricted free agent, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Downs started eight of 16 appearances with the Giants last season, recording a career-high 33 tackles (25 solo) to go with one pass breakup and one fumble recovery. He'll be eligible to negotiate and sign with other teams.

Downs is on track to fill a starting role at one of the Giants' inside linebacker spots in Monday's season opener against the Steelers, Tom Rock of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

A 2018 seventh-round pick, Downs has spent time on two different practice squads since entering the professional ranks and has four career NFL tackles to his name, but he suddenly finds himself starting in a prominent role after New York surprisingly cut Ryan Connelly last weekend. Coming off three straight 140-plus-tackle seasons with the Packers, Blake Martinez is the more intriguing IDP name of the Giants' two starters at inside linebacker, so Downs merely is just a name to monitor at this point.

Downs agreed to a new contract Monday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Downs joined the Giants' active roster in mid-October and finished the season with one tackle in seven games. He will likely continue to serve as a reserve linebacker and special teamer over the course of next season.

Downs was promoted from the Giants' practice squad to the 53-man roster Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Downs was waived by the Vikings in late September and landed on the Giants' practice squad shortly thereafter, and he'll now receive another chance on a 53-man roster. The 2017 seventh-round pick totaled three tackles in 13 total games with the Vikings and exclusively played special teams.

Downs was placed on waivers by the Vikings on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Downs leaves Minnesota having logged 22 snaps through three weeks, all coming on special teams. In two appearances -- he did not dress in Week 1 -- the 23-year-old linebacker failed to record a tackle.

The Vikings promoted Downs to the active roster Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Downs will add depth at middle linebacker, but he'll mainly be used on special teams. He has 11 career games under his belt and three tackles (two solo).

Downs played 12 snaps on special teams in Friday's preseason win over Seattle, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Downs suffered a knee injury last October but is back to full speed this preseason. However, he may be on the outside looking in for a final roster spot.

There is no timeline on when Downs (knee) will receive full medical clearance, Courtney Cronin of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Downs, a seventh-round rookie out of California, went down with an undisclosed knee injury last October and remains highly limited in what he's able to do. The uncertainty of his actual medical condition makes it difficult to estimate a realistic return date, but the linebacker will be over nine months removed from surgery by the time training camp rolls around this summer. Depending on his progress, Downs could be a candidate to open training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list.