Kyle Rudolph, the veteran acquired by the Giants during their active and expensive free releases, is in need of foot surgery, but is expected to be ready to play by the start of the 2021 season.
While playing for the Vikings last season, Rudolph, 31, hurt his foot in a December 6 game against the Jaguars. He missed the last four games, entered the open market and, after 10 years with the Vikings, agreed with the Giants to make a two-year deal worth $ 12 million. Four months after the foot was initially injured, it has not fully healed, causing a brief problem with the signing of the contract, according to NFL Network. The issue has been resolved, The Post has confirmed, and Rudolph has signed the deal, with no financial adjustments from the team.
“This is 100 percent what happened during the season that made me miss the last four games of the season,” Rudolph said on Wednesday after signing his contract. “Everyone expected it to heal on its own and it didn’t. It must be resolved. I’m extremely grateful to the Giants medical staff … and I’m excited to get it fixed and get past it.
“I don’t expect to miss any football. I am extremely excited when we start playing football to be there with my teammates. “
Rudolph will count $ 4.75 million on this year’s salary cap. He will receive a signing bonus of $ 4.5 million.
In 140 games (132 starts) for the Vikings, Rudolph had 453 receptions for 4,488 yards and 48 touchdowns. His 28 receptions in 12 games last season was his lowest production since 2014, when he played in just nine games. Rudolph is a strong in-line blocker and the Giants expect him to be a threat to the red zone, allowing Evan Engram to reduce some of his in-line blocking responsibilities so he can use his outside speed to deal with mismatch situations. to create.