<p>EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Facing a salary-cap deficit, the New York Giants have released starting guard Kevin Zeitler.</p>
<p>The Giants announced the move Wednesday, a day after franchising defensive lineman Leonard Williams in a move that will cost the team at least $19.3 million.</p>
<p>Zeitler, who turned 31 Monday, started all 31 games in which he played the past two years, including all 16 last season. He had started 85 straight games before missing a start Dec. 15, 2019 with an ankle injury.</p>
<p>Zeitler was scheduled to make $12 million and have a cap hit of $14.2 million in 2021. </p>
<p>New York has an experienced replacement. Will Hernandez lost his job at left guard last season to rookie Shane Lemieux, so one of them can move to the right side.</p>
<p>Zeitler joined the Giants in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, along with a fifth-round draft choice, for linebacker Olivier Vernon and a fourth-round draft selection on March 13, 2019. He previously played five seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals and two for the Browns.</p>
<p>Zeitler was the Giants’ oldest fulltime starter last season, a designation that might have belonged to tackle Nate Solder had he not opted out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns.</p>
<p>Solder, who is scheduled to earn $9 million if he decides to play this season, turns 33 next month. He also might be considered a cap move for the Giants, who were approximately $8 million over the $182.5 million cap set earlier Wednesday before releasing Zeitler.</p>
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