DeAndre Baker is in New Jersey and ready to report to Giants training camp on Tuesday so he can resume his NFL career.

But it’s still unclear if he’s going to get that chance.

Though the 22-year-old cornerback is proceeding as if he’s still allowed to show up for camp, it remains a possibility that he’s going to land on the “commissioner’s exempt list,” according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. That list is essentially a way for the NFL to take the decision out of the Giants’ hands and place players on paid leave while they’re facing unresolved legal situations.

And Baker’s legal situation is most definitely unresolved. He is facing eight felony charges in Broward County, Fla., stemming from an armed robbery back in May, but prosecutors have not yet determined whether to proceed with the case. Baker, through his attorney, Patrick G. Patel, has long maintained his innocence and that Baker was the target of an extortion plot. Evidence recently surfaced which he believes proves that point.

Having those felony charges hang over him, though, presents a difficult problem for the Giants. The former first-round pick obviously has value to them as a player, and clearly they wouldn’t want to release or suspend him only to find out later that he was innocent. They did cut kicker Aldrick Rosas on Sunday in the wake of a hit-and-run accident that had him facing three misdemeanor charges. But unlike Baker, Rosas was actually charged and a court date was set. The struggling kicker was also a far more expandable player.

Patel said he has been in contact with the Giants “from Minute 1” and they have not indicated to him that Baker won’t be allowed to attend training camp, even though he was asked to stay away from their virtual offseason program. He also said he has spoken to the NFL commissioner’s office “daily” and has not yet been told Baker would be placed on the “commissioner’s exempt list.”

“He’s in Jersey and he’s all scheduled to go (to camp for COVID-19) testing tomorrow,” Patel told SNY on Monday morning. “I don’t see that changing, but you never know.”

As for Baker’s case, Patel said “I’m still hopeful they’re just not going to file any charges.” It is unclear what the Broward County prosecutor’s timetable is for making that decision.

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