Offensive lineman D.J. Fluker's playing time with the New York Giants in 2017 has consisted of six special-teams snaps in three games. Not exactly what Fluker signed up for when he joined the Giants for a one-year, $3 million contract on March 11.

During his first four NFL seasons after San Diego selected him with the 11th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Fluker started all 59 games that he played with the Chargers.

In April 2016, San Diego picked up its fifth-year option on Fluker's rookie contract, setting his salary at $8,821,000 for the 2017 season. But on March 7, the Chargers released Fluker - two days before that $8.821 million became guaranteed.

Fluker has watched the Giants lose their three games this season.

In New York's 19-3 season-opening loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 10, Fluker was one of New York's inactive players. Each NFL team has 53 players on its active roster, but only 46 can be used in a game. Seven have to be de-activated at least 90 minutes before kickoff in every game.

"Honestly, I was holding tears back from my eyes," Fluker told Dan Duggan of NJ.com about being a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. "It's hard not to go out there and play. You work hard for it and you want to be out there with those guys who are working hard and they're committed to being great. It's hard to sit there and things aren't going right. So it's just like, 'What can I do as a player?' It's hard to sit there and watch that."

Fluker was active for New York's next two games, but he played only two special-teams snaps in a 24-10 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sept. 18 and four special-teams snaps in a 27-24 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Still, Fluker told Duggan that he didn't regret signing with the Giants.

"I'm not used to not playing," Fluker said. "It's a humbling experience. But also it gets me fired up even more in practice, so I go hard in practice. When that chance comes, I'm not giving it back. It's just about me having that mindset. Right now, it's about buying in and doing everything the team needs. That's just coming every day to work with that mindset. I came here to play, and that's still my mindset. But other than that, I still understand that nobody is ever bigger than the team. My role right now is just work hard and try to get into the lineup."

There has been an opening in the Giants' offensive line already this season.

Two plays into Game 2, right tackle Bobby Hart left because of an ankle injury. To take his place, the Giants moved left guard Justin Pugh into Hart's spot and put Brett Jones, a second-year player from Canada, at left guard. They started in those spots in Sunday's game.

But Jones came out of the game with a hip problem. Jones hasn't practiced this week, but Hart returned to practice on a limited basis on Thursday, according to the injury report. If Hart and Jones can't play, it's possible Fluker could get into the lineup at left guard or right tackle when the Giants visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon.

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Hurricane Katrina destroyed the home of Fluker's family in New Orleans, and he played prep football at McGill-Toolen in Mobile and Foley High School before joining Alabama. Fluker was the starting right offensive tackle for the Crimson Tide's 2011 and 2012 BCS national-championship teams.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.