Giants sign returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette; Carter Coughlin to practice squad/injured

One day after their season opener, the New York Giants signed wide receiver/return specialist Ihmir Smith-Marsette among a series of roster moves.

Carter Coughlin (pectoral) was placed on the practice squad/injured list, while Curtis Bolton, another linebacker, was signed back to the practice squad after being released on Saturday.

A fifth-round draft choice by Minnesota in 2021, Smith-Marsette has played in 33 games with one start across his career with the Vikings (2021-22), Bears (2022), Chiefs (2022-23) and Panthers, who released him at the end of August.

In 17 games with Carolina last season, the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder returned 37 punts for 322 yards (8.7-yard average), including a 79-yard touchdown in Week 10 at Chicago. Smith-Marsette also scored on a 20-yard run for the Panthers in 2023.

Overall, Smith-Marsette’s offensive numbers include 14 catches for 182 yards and two touchdowns (long of 44 yards) in addition to nine rushing attempts for 73 yards and the score.

A native of Newark, N.J., Smith-Marsette helped Weequahic High School claim the 2016 state championship with a 12-0 record. He went on to play at Iowa, where his 28.7-yard career average on kickoff returns ranked second all-time in the Big Ten. His 3,409 all-purpose yards also ranked 10^th in program history.

Coughlin suffered a pectoral injury during Sunday’s loss to the Vikings. Speaking to the media Monday afternoon, Daboll said the linebacker will be “out for months.”

Before the game, wide receiver and primary punt returner Gunner Olszewski aggravated his groin injury during warmups and was unable to play. He will be out “weeks,” according to Daboll.

Cornerback Nick McCloud (knee) is “more day-to-day, maybe week-to-week”, and wide receiver Darius Slayton is in the concussion protocol.