Giants Add Veteran Defensive Lineman to Bolster Defense

The New York Giants indicated they wanted to strengthen their defense before Sunday’s primetime season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, and they followed through by adding an experienced veteran to the roster.

Veteran defensive lineman Dean Lowry is expected to join the Giants’ practice squad, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The move gives New York a player entering his 10th NFL season who has accumulated 16.5 sacks and 271 tackles during his career.

Giants reporter Doug Rush also confirmed the signing, noting that Lowry was originally selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent seven seasons in Green Bay from 2016 through 2022 before later playing for the Minnesota Vikings in 2023 and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 and 2025.

Lowry missed the entire 2025 campaign after suffering a torn ACL during training camp. Pittsburgh released him during its final roster cuts two weeks ago.

The 6-foot-6, 296-pound defensive lineman has earned roughly $36.6 million in career salary entering the 2026 season.

ESPN’s Jordan Raanan identified Lowry as the veteran defensive lineman Giants general manager Joe Schoen had previously indicated would be added during the week.

Lowry Quickly Became a Starter in Green Bay

Now 32, Lowry earned All-Big Ten recognition at Northwestern in 2015 before making the transition to the NFL.

He became a regular starter for Green Bay during his second professional season in 2017. From 2019 through 2021, Lowry started every regular-season game for the Packers.

His best statistical season came in 2021, when he recorded a career-high five sacks.

However, injuries have become a bigger factor during the latter stages of his career.

After signing a two-year contract with Minnesota ahead of the 2023 season, Lowry appeared in only nine games before a torn pectoral muscle ended his season and sent him to injured reserve.

Giants Searching for Stability Along the Interior

The Giants are entering the 2026 season with major questions along the interior of their defensive line.

New York traded perennial All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for Cincinnati’s 2026 first-round draft pick, leaving a significant void in the middle of the defense.

The Giants also lost Roy Robertson-Harris to a serious offseason injury. Robertson-Harris, who started all 17 games last season, suffered a torn Achilles tendon.

New York responded by signing veteran defensive tackle D.J. Reader, but the team is clearly continuing to explore additional options up front.

Lowry now provides another experienced body for the Giants’ defensive line as they prepare for the start of the regular season.

While he may not immediately fill the role of the players New York has lost, his experience, size, and history as a productive NFL starter could make him a valuable depth addition as the Giants look to reshape their defense.