The Giants are set to release JuJu Smith-Schuster as part of a corresponding move to sign running back Najee Harris, according to Adam Schefter of. The decision gives the Giants a clearer path to add Harris while ending Smith-Schuster's brief stay on the roster.
Smith-Schuster signed with the Giants in early June, but his role never gained much traction. He was already listed behind three receivers on the depth chart, making him the fourth-string option before the first preseason game even arrived. That made him a logical move when the Giants needed room for another addition.
A short Giants stint for Smith-Schuster
The release adds another stop to a career that began when Smith-Schuster was a second-round pick in Pittsburgh in 2017. He and Harris were both in Pittsburgh during the 2021 season, which gives this roster transaction a familiar connection. Now the two former Steelers teammates are linked again, this time through the Giants' roster changes.
Smith-Schuster spent time with Kansas City in 2022 and again in 2024, and his most recent production came in 2025, when he finished with 33 catches for 345 yards and one touchdown with the Chiefs. That one-year run showed he could still contribute as a receiver, but the Giants did not have a long-term opening for him once the Harris move came together.
What comes next
For the Giants, the move is straightforward: add Harris and clear a roster spot by moving on from Smith-Schuster. For Smith-Schuster, it means another reset after a short summer stint. The next team interested in him will get a veteran receiver with experience in Pittsburgh and Kansas City, and the Giants will move forward with a different mix at receiver and running back.
For readers tracking Smith-Schuster's past ties to Kansas City, his long NFL path also intersected with the team in ways that drew attention off the field, including coverage around his wedding. That history is part of why his name still carries recognition even as his roster status changes again.
