Matt Nelson

Signed as a rookie free agent by the Detroit Lions on May 10, 2019…Waived by Detroit on Aug. 31, 2019, and signed to the Lions' practice squad on Sept. 1, 2019…Signed to Detroit's roster on Dec. 31, 2019…Signed as a free agent by the Giants on March 22, 2024.

TRANSACTIONS:

• Signed as a rookie free agent by the Detroit Lions on May 10, 2019…Waived by Detroit on Aug. 31, 2019, and signed to the Lions' practice squad on Sept. 1, 2019…Signed to Detroit's roster on Dec. 31, 2019…Signed as a free agent by the Giants on March 22, 2024.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• Nelson played in 43 regular-season games with 14 starts – 11 in 2021 – in 4 seasons with the Lions…Started 12 games at right tackle and 2 as an extra offensive lineman…Converted to the offensive line as a rookie after playing as a defensive lineman at Iowa.
• In 2023, played in 3 games with 2 starts at right tackle: vs. Seattle (9/17) and vs. Atlanta (9/24)…Suffered an ankle injury that required surgery vs. the Falcons and missed the remainder of the season.
• In 2022, played in 11 games in 2022, allowing zero sacks.
• In 2021, played in 13 games with a career-high 11 starts, including 9 at right tackle.
• In his first season as a player in 2020, played in a career-high 16 games with one start (vs. Green Bay on 12/13)…Made his NFL debut vs. Chicago (9/13).

COLLEGE:

• Played defensive end at Iowa, where he appeared in 52 games (33 starts)…Recorded 111 tackles (53 solo), 9 passes defensed, 8.0 sacks (for losses totaling of 49 yards), 3 fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble…In 2018, started 13 games and collected 31 tackles (15 solo), including 2 for loss, and 1.0 sack…Missed the previous spring practice…Named honorable mention All-Big Ten and was the Iowa Comeback Player of the Year Team Hustle Award winner on defense…In 2017, played in 13 games with 7 starts…Tallied 23 tackles (10 solo), 3 pass breakups, and 1.0 sack….In 2016, started 13 games and finished with career-high totals of 42 tackles, 19 solo stops, 5.0 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries…In 2015: played in 13 games and totaled 14 tackles (9 solo), 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery...Redshirted as a true freshman in 2014.

PERSONAL:

• Double majored in biology and human physiology at Iowa and has hopes of attending medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon… Named to the All-Big Ten Academic team all four years of eligibility (2015-18)…Played football and basketball at Xavier Prep School in Cedar Falls, Iowa)…Named to the Elite All-State team as a senior and first team all-state as a junior…First-team all-conference as a senior and 2^nd-team as a junior…Selected for the Iowa Shrine Bow…Two-year letterman as defensive end and tight end…Helped Xavier Prep post a 2-year record of 25-2 while reaching Class 4-A state title game in consecutive seasons…Recorded 43 tackles as a senior, with 13 tackles for loss and 9 sacks, and caught 13 passes for 146 yards and 4 touchdowns…As a junior, collected 47 tackles, with 19 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, and had 14 receptions for 162 yards and 8 scores as a junior…Team captain…Three-year basketball letterman…Academic all-state…Four-year member of the prep Honor Roll.