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Why Gunner Olszewski was ‘carted off’ New York Giants practice session
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- Why Gunner Olszewski was ‘carted off’ New York Giants practice session
Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images
Gunner Olszewski being carted off Giants practice was not a routine OTA scare, it was the kind of noncontact injury that can change a roster plan before summer even starts.
The New York Giants already had enough uncertainty at wide receiver before Friday's practice turned serious.
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Olszewski is not the headline name in that room, but his role matters because return-game stability and back-end receiver depth are hard to replace cleanly in May.
Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images
Gunner Olszewski Injury Update Raises Achilles Fear
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Giants fear Olszewski suffered a torn Achilles tendon during OTAs, which explains why he was carted off so quickly.
The veteran wide receiver and returner reportedly went down late in practice on a noncontact change-of-direction play. He grabbed at his right leg and showed clear frustration as trainers came over.
That detail is important because noncontact lower-leg injuries rarely get treated casually until testing proves otherwise. Olszewski is undergoing further evaluation, but the Giants' early concern points to something potentially severe.
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The timing is brutal for a player who re-signed on a one-year deal this offseason. He was expected to help New York in the return game while giving the offense a useful reserve option.
Why Gunner Olszewski Still Matters To The Giants
This injury carries weight because Olszewski has built his NFL value in a role fans often overlook until it disappears.
He has played 81 regular-season games, catching 25 passes for 325 yards and two receiving touchdowns. His bigger impact has come on special teams, where he has scored two career return touchdowns.
In 2025, Olszewski played 16 games for the Giants and produced career highs with 10 catches, 145 receiving yards and one touchdown. He also returned 24 punts for 216 yards and 26 kickoffs for 682 yards.
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That is not star production, but it is useful roster production. With Malik Nabers still working through knee rehab and Darius Slayton recovering from a core muscle issue, every available receiver matters.
Gunner Olszewski Injury History Adds More Context
Olszewski does not appear to have a known previous Achilles tear, but his recent availability has already been tested.
His 2024 season ended before it really began after he suffered a groin injury during pregame warmups before Week 1. He spent that entire season on injured reserve.
That does not automatically make him injury-prone. Returners take awkward hits, sprint through traffic and live on sudden movements, so their durability can swing quickly.
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Still, this possible Achilles injury would be a harsh setback for both player and team. Olszewski had just re-established a clear Giants role, and New York has already watched Roy Robertson-Harris and Thaddeus Dixon suffer Achilles injuries this spring.
That is why the cart mattered. The concern was not about a minor practice tweak, it was about a potentially season-altering injury.
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