Giants release former starting running back Paul Perkins

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Running back Paul Perkins was released by the New York Giants on Thursday with a non-football injury.

Perkins suffered a pectoral injury before the start of the team’s offseason conditioning program and subsequently underwent surgery.

A fifth-round draft choice from UCLA in 2016, Perkins played in 25 regular-season games with five starts. He also started the 2016 NFC wild-card loss at Green Bay. He had 153 carries for 546 yards with a long run of 22 yards; and 23 receptions for 208 yards, with a long catch of 67 yards.

Perkins did not score a touchdown in his Giants career.

He likely would not have been a starter in the upcoming season after New York drafted Penn State running back Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick.

___

For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL