The New York Giants have claimed punter Johnny Townsend off waivers, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. The Oakland Raiders released Townsend on Tuesday, giving the reins of the position to rookie A.J. Cole. The Raiders selected Townsend, hailing from Florida, with a fifth-round pick in 2018.
In 2018, Townsend punted 70 balls for 3,024 yards (43.2-yard average) and a 64-yard long. His team was 28th in the NFL in net average per punt with 39.7 yards per attempt.
Currently, the Giants have two punters on the roster: Riley Dixon and Ryan Anderson. Dixon is the incumbent starter; he signed with the team in 2018 after two seasons with the Denver Broncos. In 2018, he punted 71 balls for 3,226 yards and a long of 60 yards. His average was 45.4 yard per attempt, while his net average was 42.9 yards, good for seventh in the NFL.
Anderson went undrafted out of Rutgers in 2018. Afterward, he participated in the New England Patriots' rookie minicamp but went unsigned. He spent his first pro snaps with the Birmingham Iron, part of the now-defunct Alliance of American Football. In 2017, with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Anderson booted 79 punts for 3,508 yards for an average of 44.4 yards per attempt. He kicks with his left leg:
“I think he’s [Anderson] done a good job in terms of he’s kind of caught our eye. He’s made plays. He’s worthy of the reps that he’s getting,” Giants head coach Pat Shurmur said on Tuesday, per Giants.com.
With Dixon, Anderson, and now Townsend in-fold, the Giants have a three-headed punting competition to monitor in training camp.
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