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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Coming off a torn Achilles tendon, Najee Harris had to wait until the middle of NFL training camps in August to sign a contract.
Now that he has joined the New York Giants, the veteran running back does not anticipate making them wait for him to contribute. Fresh off signing with them following a workout Monday, Harris has his confidence back and is eager to play sooner than later.
"How long's it going to take? I don't know, but I'm going to be good," Harris said Tuesday after doing limited individual work in practice. "It's not going to take a long time. It doesn't take a long time for me to get in shape. I take that seriously. I'm committed to that, so I'm not really too worried about that at all."
Coach John Harbaugh estimated it would take 2-3 weeks for Harris to be game ready. New York's season opener against Dallas on Sept. 13 is 3.5 weeks away.
"Just in time, probably," Harbaugh said. "He's an experienced back. Anybody that's watched him play knows what type of a back he is. He's a downhill runner, a physical runner."
The Giants with Harbaugh in charge are expected to rely heavily on the running game. Harris at 6-foot-1 and over 240 pounds gives them another battering ram at a crowded position.
Bad situation
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Chargers center Tyler Biadasz was carted off the field with a left leg injury during Tuesday's joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers.
Biadasz went down after 49ers defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez fell into his leg during an 11-on-11 drill.
After Biadasz got hurt, rookie Jake Slaughter took reps at center. The second-round pick out of Florida has mostly been playing at left guard during training camp.
Biadasz signed with the Chargers in March after starting 31 games over the last two seasons for the Washington Commanders before being released.
Now, Slaughter could find himself starting at center.
Good news
New York Jets running back Breece Hall will be sidelined two to three weeks with a strained groin, but is expected to be ready to play in the regular-season opener.
Coach Aaron Glenn was cautiously optimistic Monday after Hall caught a pass late in practice Monday, pulled up and fell to the rain-slicked grass. Glenn said Tuesday that tests confirmed that the injury isn't serious and won't sideline the Jets' No. 1 running back for long.
The 25-year-old Hall is considered a key to New York's offense and is coming off his first 1,000-yard rushing season. Hall, a 2022 second-round draft pick from Iowa State, has 1,000 yards from scrimmage in three straight seasons, making him just the sixth player -- and fifth running back -- in franchise history to accomplish the feat.
After sitting out the preseason opener against Tampa Bay with a sore ankle, quarterback Geno Smith has practiced the past two days and says the swelling is "getting better." But it's uncertain if he'll play in the second preseason game Friday night at Pittsburgh.