Giants lineman credits comedy legend for decision to return to team

The Giants originally selected Pugh as the 19th overall pick of the 2013 NFL Draft and he spent the first five years of his career with the team, playing 63 regular season games (all starts) and one playoff contest.

The Syracuse University product signed with the Arizona Cardinals in March 2018 and played the next five years in the desert.

After going unsigned last offseason, Pugh was selected to the G-Men's practice squad in early October. With the team's litany of injuries on the offensive line, Pugh was elevated to their active roster this past Saturday in time for the Giants' Week 6 "Sunday Night Football" game against the Buffalo Bills.

During the "SNF" player intros on NBC, the 33-year-old colorfully quipped that he was signed "straight off the couch." The intros are typically reserved for players to tell viewers their name and alma mater but have become an option for guys to show their comedic side in recent years.

New York re-signed Pugh to the active roster on Wednesday, four days ahead of their Week 7 home game against the Washington Commanders.

If the former Orangeman suits up on Sunday vs. Washington, it will be his first home contest with Big Blue since Week 10 of the 2017 campaign, nearly six years ago.