Tag: Collin Johnson

See it: Giants’ Collin Johnson working way back from Achilles injury

New York Giants WR Collin Johnson is steadily improving after an Achilles injury last season and looks like he could be a factor in 2023.

Last summer at New York Giants training camp, wide receiver Collin Johnson was forcing his way into the Giants’ plans under new head coach Brian Daboll.

Then, in a late August workout, Johnson suffered an Achilles injury that ended his season.

“He was making a really strong case for himself in camp and had a non-contact injury where he just kind of slipped and popped his Achilles,” Daboll said at the time.

Since then, the 6-foot-6, 225-pound former University of Texas star has been out-of-sight, out-of-mind.

Until now. The Giants have been beefing up their wide receiver corps this offseason with the subtraction of Kenny Golladay, the retention of Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard, and the addition of Parris Campbell, Jamison Crowder and Jeff Smith.

That is all on top of a unit that still has last year’s second-round draft pick, Wan’Dale Robinson, surprise breakout Isaiah Hodgins and…Johnson.

Many believe the Giants are going to draft a top wideout in the first round of next month’s NFL draft. Others aren’t so sure. They think the Giants have done enough this offseason to field a competitive unit.

Much of that could be based on the fact that Johnson is rehabbing and working out hard and could be back in the mix come training camp.

Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don’t make…

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Giants’ Collin Johnson making ‘encouraging progress’ after Achilles tear

New York Giants WR Collin Johnson is making “encouraging progress” after suffering a torn Achilles in training camp.

The New York Giants lost multiple wide receivers to injury in 2022, including Collin Johnson, who tore his Achilles in training camp.

The 6-foot-6 Johnson had played well for the Giants in spot moments after coming over from the Jacksonville Jaguars, and was poised to take on a larger role this past season. But that obviously did not happen.

With a year remaining on his contract, the Giants will likely give Johnson another look in 2023. And by all accounts, his recovery is going well and he should be ready to take the field again this summer.

Johnson was originally a fifth-round pick of the Jaguars in the 2020 NFL draft. The Giants claimed him off of waivers on September 1, 2021.

In 26 career games (one start), Johnson has hauled in 29 receptions for 377 yards and two touchdowns.

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Giants’ Collin Johnson out for season after suffering torn Achilles

New York Giants WR Collin Johnson suffered a torn Achilles on Wednesday and will miss the 2022 regular season.

The New York Giants are dealing with an unprecedented amount of injuries and the trend does not appear to be slowing down.

Midway through Wednesday’s practice, wide receiver Collin Johnson was carted off the field with what appeared to be a significant lower leg injury. The reaction from his teammates seemed to support that notion.

Johnson had been a star throughout training camp and the preseason, even drawing recent praise from head coach Brian Daboll.

“The guys that have been out there and producing, Collin Johnson, David Sills, they’ve stepped their game up. And they’re right in the mix, not just to make a team but to play,” Daboll told reporters on Monday. “Everybody’s got to earn their job, earn their role, do a good job of the things they need to do, and make the most of their opportunities when they get them.”

The Giants later confirmed that Johnson had suffered a torn Achilles and will miss the 2022 season.

In addition to Johnson, fellow wide receiver Alex Bachman was also injured during Wednesday’s practice.

The injuries to Johnson and Bachman come on the same day the Giants activated veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard (Achilles) off of the PUP list.

Finally, running back Matt Breida was forced to leave practice due to what appeared to be overheating/dehydration issues.

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Giants’ David Sills, Collin Johnson may earn more than roster spots

New York Giants coach Brian Daboll says David Sills and Collin Johnson aren’t just playing their way onto the roster, but into a legit role.

The New York Giants have to be pleased with their depth at wide receiver this summer. While their top-end depth of Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney and Wan’Dale Robinson have been injured or underperforming, the back-end of their roster has not.

Collin Johnson, David Sills and Alex Bachman have all flashed throughout training camp and the preseason, and head coach Brian Daboll is beginning to envision significant roles for them.

“The guys that have been out there and producing, Collin Johnson, David Sills, they’ve stepped their game up. And they’re right in the mix, not just to make a team but to play,” Daboll told reporters on Monday. “Everybody’s got to earn their job, earn their role, do a good job of the things they need to do, and make the most of their opportunities when they get them.”

Given the numbers at wide receiver, it may be tricky to find space for Johnson and Sills. Or Bachman and Richie James Jr. One may earn a spot at the expense of wide receiver Darius Slayton, who has been considered a potential trade piece or cap causality this summer, but what about the rest?

Sterling Shepard is inching closer to a return which only further bloats those numbers. But Johnson, Sills and Bachman have all proven to be tough, smart and dependable — exactly what Daboll is looking for in his players.

“That’s definitely something that’s awesome to hear, but there’s constant competition in training camp. I think we’ve had good competition in our room this whole training camp,” Sills said. “We’ve got another week of competing against the Jets and have a joint practice with them so I’m just going to try to put my best foot forward this week, and carry it into the game.

“Hopefully everything will work its way out from that. I’m just going to continue do the same thing that I’ve been doing this whole training camp and try to go out there and like I said, make plays and put my best foot forward.”

Sills has the added benefit of being close with quarterback Daniel Jones. The two regularly spend time together in the offseason with Sills often tagging along wherever Jones goes.

“I definitely don’t think it hurts,” Sills said with a laugh. “We have been able to build a good connection over the last couple years. I think it’s been paying off out there in practice and in the game the other day. He kind of knows where I’m going to be, I know where the ball is going to be. So, it’s something that I had put a lot of time in to get to this point, but like I said earlier it’s not like the job is finished.”

The Giants are in an odd and unexpected spot. It’s been years since they were forced to release good players prior to the start of the regular season, but that’s where they currently find themselves. Unless they decide to do the unthinkable and part ways with Golladay, someone who has played well this summer is going to be cut loose.

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Giants defeat Bengals: Winners, losers and those in between

Here are the winners, losers and those in between from the New York Giants’ preseason Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

After a solid showing against the New England Patriots in Week 1 of the preseason, the New York Giants were back at it on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

Already down 18 players due to injury, the Giants quickly inflated that total. There were several notable injuries throughout the game, including to rookie edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Back on the field, New York’s reserves struggled against the Cincinnati Bengals initially, but rebounded strong and closed things out on another Davis Webb comeback.

Giants vs. Bengals: 5 things to watch

The New York Giants will take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2 of the preseason on Sunday and here are five things to watch.

The New York Giants will host the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium on Sunday night in the second game of their 2022 preseason schedule.

Here are five things to watch for in Week 2 of the preseason.

Giants’ Brian Daboll praises IQ of Collin Johnson, who’s in a ‘groove’

New York Giants WR Collin Johnson says he’s in a “groove” as head coach Brian Daboll praises his intelligence.

Last March, the New York Giants signed a long, lanky wide receiver who would make the contested catches and upgrade their red zone capability.

His name was Kenny Golladay. A year and half later, the Giants could just have that type of player on their offense, but it’s not Golladay.

His name is Collin Johnson.

Johnson, who was claimed last year off waivers by the Giants and played sparingly, was a fifth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020 and waived during final cuts last summer.

The 6-foot-6, 225-pound former University of Texas standout is the son of former NFL veteran Johnnie Johnson, who played the majority of his pro career as a defensive back with the Los Angeles Rams in the 1980s.

In the Giants’ first preseason game versus the New England Patriots, Big Blue was down a few receivers and Johnson was elevated up the depth chart.

He responded by catching seven of eight targets for 82 yards and looked quite fluid in the process. Johnson’s one faux pas was a lost fumble that stopped a possible scoring drive, but overall, he opened some eyes.

“As a receiver, you definitely get in a groove, and I definitely felt like I got in my groove the other night against the Patriots,” Johnson told reporters on Monday. “It felt nice to get in that groove again. Like I said, I just try to get in that groove in practice and one-on-one reps and everything I do. It didn’t surprise me on gameday because I try to prepare in that mental space. When it happened when the lights were on, I was ready for it.”

With Golladay still struggling to break out, the Giants are encouraged by what they’ve seen in Johnson.

“It’s not so much the size,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “It’s his overall intelligence of being able to line up at multiple spots. The ability to separate and get open is important and then make plays on the football when he has an opportunity to.

“He’s made the most of his opportunities. We’ve talked to these guys about earning it, and he’s certainly earned it with his opportunities that he’s gotten. If he does well, he’ll get more opportunities. He’s smart. He’s got position flexibility in terms of intelligence and understanding the roster. He’s made plays. He’s done a nice job.”

Johnson is the type of player Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are looking for — young, hungry and team-focused. Also, tough, smart and dependable.

“I literally look at myself in the mirror after I walk in from practice to the locker room and I ask if I gave it my best today,” Johnson said. “If the answer’s yes, I can be happy with that. And if the answer’s no, I’m not doing it right. I just got to continue to go hard and take it day-by-day, practice-by-practice. And if I gave it my all, I could live with that.”

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Giants’ Collin Johnson named ‘backup likely to blossom’ in 2022

New York Giants WR Collin Johnson, who has impressed this summer, was recently named a “backup NFL playmaker likely to blossom in 2022.”

New York Giants wide receiver Collin Johnson has been generating quite a bit of buzz this summer and rightfully so. He’s made big plays throughout training camp and followed that up with an impressive performance during the team’s preseason opener.

Johnson led the Giants with seven receptions (on eight targets) for 82 yards in a 23-21 victory over the New England Patriots. His sole blemish was a lost fumble — something he had avoided in camp to that point.

With injury and inconsistency riddling the Giants’ wide receivers group, it has opened the door for Johnson to not only make the 53-man roster, but potentially play an impactful role.

That’s what Ian Wharton of Bleacher Report envisions happening, recently naming Johnson a “backup NFL playmaker likely to blossom in 2022.”

Third-year Giants receiver Collin Johnson might be about to emerge in 2022. The 6’6″, 224-pounder posted impressive numbers at Texas before being drafted in the fifth-round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He finished his career with 188 receptions for 2,624 yards and 15 scores over four years.

Jacksonville cut him after he caught 18 passes for 272 yards and two scores in 2020. Johnson played sparingly with New York last year and was only targeted 21 times, but he came back to fight for a roster spot.

His seven-catch, 82-yard performance in his first preseason game was encouraging. After this unit was ravaged by injuries last year and saw inconsistent play from Kenny Golladay, Johnson provides a similar vertical skill set that can be an insurance policy. If Golladay again disappoints or several projected contributors miss significant time, Johnson is already proving to be a fit in Brian Daboll’s offense.

Johnson has had the sort of on-field impact the Giants expected of Golladay this summer. He’s a big-bodied, contested catch receiver who presents mismatches the team’s quarterbacks can exploit. He’s also sneaky fast for his size.

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Giants open preseason with victory over Patriots: 3 takeaways

The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots on Thursday night and here are three notable takeaways.

The New York Giants opened their 2022 preseason schedule with a nationally televised 23-21 victory over the New England Patriots in Foxborough on Thursday night.

Here are three top takeaways from the victory.

Giants defeat Patriots: Winners, losers and those in between

Here are the winners, losers and those in between from the New York Giants’ preseason Week 1 victory over the New England Patriots.

The New York Giants opened up their 2022 preseason schedule with a jaunt up I-95 to New England to face the Patriots.

The Pats did not dress any of their starters in this game while the Giants decided to take a different approach.

Here’s some early winners and losers from Thursday’s 23-21 victory.