Running back Brandon Jacobs re-signed with the New York Giants on a one-year deal.
The team brought in three veterans – Jacobs, Willis McGahee and Joe McKnight – for workouts Tuesday, and opted to bring Jacobs back into the fold to help struggling second-year back David Wilson.
Wilson was benched after fumbling twice in Sunday night’s season-opening loss at the Dallas Cowboys. He also struggled in pass protection, a chore that was largely expected to fall on injured third-down back Andre Brown.
Jacobs, 31, was with the Giants from 2005-2011, and while he often clashed with the coaching staff over his running style and role in the offense, he did rush for 4,849 yards and 56 touchdowns over those seven seasons.
The bruising 6-4, 264-pound Jacobs signed with the San Francisco 49ers during the 2012 offseason, but battled a knee injury and was released after managing just seven yards on five carries in two games.
Jacobs was mostly used in a two-back system with the Giants, either with Tiki Barber or Ahmad Bradshaw. He’ll now be asked to mentor Wilson and third-year back Da’Rel Scott – at least until Brown returns from his broken leg. Jacobs’ salary is non-guaranteed since he was signed after the first full week of the season.