Giants claim WR Dante Pettis off waivers

The New York Giants are looking for any help they can get for struggling second-year quarterback Daniel Jones. 

New York confirmed on Wednesday that the club has been awarded wide receiver Dante Pettis off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers roughly 24 hours after the 49ers cut the second-round pick from the 2018 NFL Draft. San Francisco reportedly couldn't find a buyer for the 25-year-old ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline and decided to release him. 

Pettis didn't tally a single reception with the 49ers this year and was only targeted once. His last catch versus a live NFL defense occurred on Oct. 31 of last year against the Arizona Cardinals. 

Pettis recorded 27 receptions for 467 yards with five touchdowns as a rookie, but as Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area noted, the wideout showed up out of shape at the start of the subsequent year's training camp sessions and, ultimately, fell out of favor with the 49ers. Per the Giants website, Pettis played in eight snaps on offense and five on special teams when New York lost to San Francisco on Sept. 27. 

Darius Slayton currently leads the Giants in catches (32), targets (56), receiving yards (485) and receiving touchdowns (3). Jones, meanwhile, is 21st among eligible players with a 61.8 total QBR and has also thrown the third-most interceptions (9) this season.