Brandon Meriweather Released by Giants: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

The New York Giants are making changes to their secondary, as the team released veteran safety Brandon Meriweather on Wednesday, per the team's official website.   

In a corresponding roster move, ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler reported the team was bringing back defensive tackle Barry Cofield. 

Meriweather was in his first season with the Giants, signing a deal in August after the team lost safeties Landon Collins and Mykkele Thompson to injuries during the preseason. 

The 31-year-old started the first 11 games for New York in 2015, recording seven passes defensed and two interceptions. Meriweather missed the Giants' last two games against the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins due to a knee injury. 

Collins and Craig Dahl have become the starting safeties in New York, with Cooper Taylor being the only other active player at the position following Meriweather's release. 

Meriweather's injury likely was a factor in the decision, though his departure can be seen as a surprise. He was a starter when healthy and the Giants pass defense has been awful this year. They rank 19th in touchdowns passes allowed (23) and last in pass yards allowed (4,009). 

Granted, Meriweather wasn't a dynamic force in the secondary, as Pro Football Focus had him ranked 67th out of 86 qualified safeties in 2015 (per Luke Adams of ProFootballRumors.com), but the Giants still need depth to finish this season. 

Yet the Giants opted to pursue a defensive tackle in Cofield, who hasn't played this year and only appeared in eight games last season with Washington, rather than add to their defensive backfield.

Given his extensive resume and starting experience, Meriweather should be able to land on his feet as soon as his knee injury subsides. He's a limited player at this stage of his career, yet he did show he was capable of making plays in games and teams always need help in the secondary. 

Stats per ESPN.com unless otherwise noted