Tag: Theo Johnson

Giants tight ends have yet to make their mark in the passing game

New York Giants tight ends have not factored into the passing game through two weeks, which is by design Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka say.

Over the past decade, the NFL has seen the role of receiving tight ends expand into something special. The successful teams usually have a go-to tight end that they can call on to both bail them out in the short passing game or even lead the charge in the passing game.

The New York Giants lost Darren Waller to retirement this past offseason but believe they had a productive tandem in Daniel Bellinger and rookie Theo Johnson.

Through two games, however, neither has distinguished themself and it may not be their fault. The offensive game plan is simply bypassing them in favor of the wide receivers and running backs.

Johnson, who many have earmarked for stardom, has been targeted just four times, catching one pass for 18 yards. Bellinger caught his only target for a three-yard gain.

“The tight ends are doing a great job,” offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said on Thursday. “Coach (Tim) Kelly, (Angela Baker), they do an awesome job getting those guys prepared. And of course, we have them involved in the run game. We have them involved in the pass game. Just as the game, the flow of the game goes, it goes in a direction or not. And if we have to transition that, then we will.”

Head coach Brian Daboll is the one actually calling the plays, though. Earlier this week he was asked about the tight end usage in Sunday’s loss in Washington.

“I think the tight ends were involved,” he said. “They were involved in protection and allowing us to throw the ball 20, 25 yards down the field or deep comebacks or go’s or posts. So, everybody has a role to do. That depends on the game and the team we’re playing. And when their number is called, I expect them to go out there and make it. Whatever that may be, whether it’s blocking, pass blocking, run blocking. It takes all 11.”

The addition of rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers has put a dent in everyone’s targets. Of the Giants’ 65 passing targets so far, 25 of them have gone Nabers’ way.

Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson is next with 16 and no other player has more than eight targets this season. Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, who many experts predicted a huge breakout season from, has had just one pass thrown his way, which fell incomplete.

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Giants’ Darius Slayton offers high praise for revamped offensive line

New York Giants WR Darius Slayton is thrilled about the team’s new-look offensive line: “It’s been a blessing to have those guys.”

The New York Giants entered the offseason intent on repairing their under-performing offensive line and after surrendering a league-high 85 sacks in 2023, general manager Joe Schoen appears to have done just that.

Despite some injury issues that prevented them from playing together for much of the summer, the additions of Jon Runyan Jr., Jermaine Eluemunor, Greg Van Roten, and Aaron Stinnie have been a stabilizing force.

For the first time in more than a decade, Giants quarterbacks had time to operate in the pocket during training camp and throughout the preseason. It was a sight for sore eyes and something offensive players are appreciative of.

“It’s been really exciting,” wide receiver Darius Slayton told reporters on Monday. “Like you said, those guys have come in and done a great job embracing the task and they’ve played really good ball throughout camp. I think this is probably one of our better, maybe the best camp, since I’ve been here that we had up front, both on pass protection and in the run game. It’s been a blessing to have those guys be here and they’re veteran players and guys that know what they’re doing and have been great additions to our team.”

Slayton’s positive review of the roster rebuilt didn’t end there. He was especially excited by the return of cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, who he said is one of the best teammates he’s ever had.

“Over my six years here, a lot of guys that came in and out of our building, and Adoree’ is definitely one of my favorite teammates I’ve had since I’ve been here. I was obviously really excited when I saw that we had him in, and I was hoping we did sign him, and we ended up signing him. So, I was pretty happy about that,” Slayton said.

“Some veteran knowledge. Some veteran savvy. Just help continue to bring the young guys along that we have in the back end, as well as he’s still a really good football player. Adoree’ is only 28 years old so he certainly hasn’t fallen off the horse at all. He can still play at a high level himself so, I think he’ll help us both mentally and physically.”

Then there is rookie tight end Theo Johnson, who Slayton likened to the ideal tight end creation in Madden.

“He’s like pretty much like if you were to get on Madden and build a tight end, you would build Theo (Johnson),” he said. “He’d be big, he’d be fast, be able to catch and block. He can run. During this preseason he showed he has some wiggle. There’s really not much else you can want out of a tight end that Theo doesn’t have. I think his ceiling is about as high as anybody we have on the team, to be honest.”

Needless to say, Slayton is pretty excited about the 2024 season and feels optimistic about what the Giants should be able to accomplish.

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Giants vs. Texans features two potential rookie stars at tight end

Two rookie tight ends — New York Giants TE Theo Johnson and Houston Texans TE Cade Stover — will be on display during Saturday’s game.

The New York Giants head down to the Lone Star State this Saturday afternoon to face the Houston Texans in Week 2 of the NFL preseason.

There are loads of backstories to follow in this game including Daniel Jones’ first game action since last November and Houston’s sudden emergence as a Super Bowl contender.

One backstory many may have missed focuses on two rookie tight ends, both who played in the Big Ten and were taken in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft.

The Giants drafted Penn State’s Theo Johnson with the 107th overall selection. The Texans followed that with Ohio State’s Cade Stover 16 picks later.

The Giants took Johnson in response to Darren Waller’s expected decision to retire. Yes, they were looking to add a tight end or two this offseason but they could not pass up on the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Johnson in the fourth round.

Stover was taken mainly for his connection with Texans’ quarterback C.J. Stroud, his college teammate. Stroud apparently lobbied the Texans’ front office to draft Stover. It worked.

Johnson seems to be a developing player that could go either way. Boom or bust, they call it. The Giants are readying for the boom.

“He’s smart. He’s a young professional, a true pro, loves the game,” head coach Brian Daboll said of Johnson at the outset of training camp.

“Has good size. Can bend. Can run. Obviously tested really well. But had a really good pro day, too, at Penn State, moving around, running his routes, hitting the bag. You can only get so much out of it. You can tell his bend, you can tell he’s athletic. He’s a good guy we thought we could work with.”

Johnson began camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with a hip flexor issue but only lasted a short while. When he came back, he hit the ground running.

The Giants know that Johnson can catch the ball in space and go. What they need to see — and what will determine his playing time — is Johnson’s ability to block.

That question was answered quickly when the Detroit Lions came to town. Johnson was pitted against the Lions’ star defensive end, Aiden Hutchinson, and more than held his own.

“That was a big part of my job at Penn State,” Johnson said of his blocking. “We took a lot of pride in it. We had those big packages, three tight ends, two running backs. I do enjoy it. It’s something I take a lot of pride in and something I’m going to continue to work at every day.”

Stover has also garnered praise this summer from his coaches. Originally recruited as a linebacker, Stover went on to become the second most-prolific tight end in Buckeyes history. In 2023, he was named Big Ten Tight End of the Year.

“Cade has been the guy we saw on tape at Ohio State, just tough,” DeMeco Ryans said, via KPRC 2. “Making tough competitive catches, finishing strong with the football. Like the couple plays he made in the game last Thursday (in the Hall of Fame game versus Chicago), it’s cool to see a guy you see in practice, but you’re never quite sure how they’re going to respond when they get in the game, but it was cool to see Cade just be who Cade has been.”

Stover appears to be a complete tight end, much like what the Giants believe they might have in Johnson. The two have similar mindsets and it will be interesting to see the two on the same field this weekend.

“Right now, the hardest part of this is just the mental toughness of it all,” said Stover. “Physical toughness, you either have it or you don’t, in my opinion. I always felt like I was bred in that area with things and that is just how it happens naturally. Just play after play, that is how we roll.”

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Giants’ Brian Daboll expects Gronk-like dominance from Theo Johnson

New York Giants coach Brian Daboll has been showing TE Theo Johnson clips of Rob Gronkowski and expressing his desire to see similar play.

When the New York Giants selected tight end Theo Johnson in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft, it seemed as though the franchise was expecting Darren Waller to retire.

The Penn State product has the size and speed to be a steal, which is what the Giants’ front office saw in him before selecting him.

Head coach Brian Daboll has made it clear to Johnson that he is expecting Rob Gronkowski-level production from his new tight end.

Daboll, who coached and is close with Gronk, has been showing Johnson clips of the retired tight end and expressing a desire to see similar results on the field.

“There’s countless times where we’ll be in the middle of a meeting and he’ll be like, ‘Theo, Dabs wants to see you,'” Johnson told Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com. “Pulls me out of the meeting and I’m like, ‘What could this possibly be about?’

“And then he’s got up a clip of Gronk just running somebody over, catching a back shoulder, and he’s like, ‘This is what we expect from you.’ I can tell he puts a lot of intentional eye into the tight end position … I think it goes to show how he feels about me and what he thinks I’m capable of.”

Coincidentally, Daboll did try to lure Gronkowski out of retirement last offseason.

If Johnson can contribute anywhere close to the level of the future Hall of Famer, the Giants are in for a treat.

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Theo Johnson off and running at tight end for Giants

New York Giants rookie tight end Theo Johnson returned to the field on Sunday after a stint on PUP and made an immediate impact.

The New York Giants had to wait a few days to get rookie tight end Theo Johnson out on the practice field but it was worth it.

The fourth-round pick out of Penn State opened camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with a hip flexor issue but was cleared to practice on Sunday morning.

Johnson came right out of the gate with a reception over the middle that would have been a seam-buster in an actual game.

“I feel great,” Johnson said after practice. “Legs are fresh. Glad to be out there.”

The 6-foot-6 Johnson was pleased to finally get his hands on the ball saying he has been “itching to get out there.” He is involved a heavy competition with a very crowded tight end room for not only playing time but a roster spot.

The Giants have four other legit candidates this summer who Johnson must contend with: Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager, Chris Manhertz, and Jack Stoll.

Johnson told reporters that although he was not out on the field earlier in the week he was still learning and training on the side. He said he’ll be a “full go” for Monday’s padded practice.

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Giants’ Brian Daboll won’t commit to Week 1 return for Evan Neal

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll says RT Evan Neal is “day to day” but refuses to commit to a Week 1 return.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll addressed the media on Sunday morning before his team’s practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

The players had a day off on Saturday but it was back to business on Sunday.

Daboll announced the team released quarterback Nathan Rourke, leaving the team with just three for the remainder of training camp. Meanwhile, rookie tight end Theo Johnson, a fourth-round pick out of Penn State, was activated off the PUP list.

Daboll also said rookie safety Tyler Nubin (calf) would not practice again on Sunday but was “getting close” to returning. Defensive lineman Timmy Horne (calf) will return to work after a short absence.

Center John Michael Schmitz (shoulder) will be limited on Sunday.

The status of right tackle Evan Neal remains murky with Daboll refusing to commit to a Week 1 return. Currently, Neal is considered “day-to-day.”

Daboll spoke about the value edge rusher Brian Burns has had on both the players he’s playing alongside (Kayvon Thibodeaux, Azeez Ojulari) and the players he’s going up against (left tackle Andrew Thomas).

The Giants will conduct their first padded practice of training camp on Monday.

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Giants activate TE Theo Johnson from PUP, release QB Nathan Rourke

The New York Giants have activated rookie TE Theo Johnson from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and released QB Nathan Rourke.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll revealed on Sunday morning that rookie tight end Theo Johnson (hip) had passed his physical and been activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

Johnson was initially placed on PUP after reporting for training camp earlier this week but his stay was always expected to be shortlived.

The Giants selected the 6-foot-6, 259-pound Johnson in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft with an understanding that Darren Waller was likely to retire.

Daboll told reporters that Johnson will return to the practice field on Sunday where he’ll compete with Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager, and others for a role on the 53-man roster.

In addition to activating Johnson from PUP, Daboll also announced that quarterback Nathan Rourke had been released.

The Giants claimed Rourke off of waivers from the New England Patriots in early May but he saw almost no action throughout the first three training camp practices.

With Rourke off the roster, the Giants will move forward with Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito.

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Giants place rookie TE Theo Johnson on PUP list

The New York Giants have placed rookie tight end Theo Johnson (hip) on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

The New York Giants opened training camp to their 2024 draft class and other first-year players and revealed one of their key offseason adds will not be ready for action.

Tight end Theo Johnson, a fourth-round pick out of Penn State, will begin camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with a hip flexor injury.

As Art Stapleton has outlined, placing a player on PUP is the only way to protect both the team and the player. Johnson can come off at any time before the season.

Johnson was drafted to defray the impending loss of veteran Darren Waller, who was contemplating retirement, which he has since gone through with.

The Giants have a fairly crowded tight end room without Johnson. Daniel Bellinger is back and healthy and Lawrence Cager was re-signed. General manager Joe Schoen also signed veteran free agents Chris Manhertz and Jack Stoll.

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Giants ranked near bottom of NFL in skill position talent

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranks the New York Giants 29th in the NFL in combined wide receiver, tight end and running back talent.

The New York Giants have been criticized for their thin roster the past few years, a trend that will continue unless they can change minds with their play on the field.

In a recent list of NFL team’s wide receiver, tight end, and running back talent for the 2024 season, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranked Big Blue 29th in the league.

That is down from last year’s ranking (27th) but a notch above the No. 30 rating of 2022.

Barnwell notes the loss of star running back Saquon Barkley in free agency could be offset by the addition of top draft pick Malik Nabers, a wide receiver from LSU.

Barkley is talented but was often injured and Nabers will have to excel for this swap to work out for the Giants.

If Nabers is anything short of spectacular as a rookie, this won’t be a pretty offense. Devin Singletary had a decent 2023 season with the Texans, but it’s going to be much harder for him without C.J. Stroud and a devastatingly efficient passing attack. Darren Waller retired and wasn’t really replaced. I’ve always felt Darius Slayton was underrated and underappreciated as a deep threat, but he’s probably not an every-down receiver in better offenses. I don’t know why Allen Robinson is still in the league. Wan’Dale Robinson has been strictly a gadget guy over his first two seasons, and Jalin Hyatt’s offseason hype has revolved around knowing where to line up before the snap in Year 2.

Some clarity on this analysis. The Giants are backfilling the loss of Barkley with a committee approach at running back. Singletary is the top back in the rotation at the moment, but there are others (Eric Gray and rookie Tyrone Tracy), who the team are high on.

Nabers joins Hyatt and Robinson — both recent Day 2 draft picks — in an eclectic, but interesting trio of young talent at receiver. Of course, they have yet to hit the field and no one can predict how they will click.

Waller was replaced. The Giants anticipated his retirement by signing Chris Manhertz and Jack Stoll in free agency and then selecting Penn State’s Theo Johnson in the draft.

Manhertz and Stoll are basically backups but Johnson has the same physical dimensions as Waller and is an interesting add that could surprise as a rookie.

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PFF continues to hammer Giants, ranks their receivers among NFL’s worst

Pro Football Focus ranks the New York Giants’ receivers among the worst in football headed into the 2024 season.

The New York Giants made a significant upgrade to their wide receivers crops this offseason, selecting LSU’s Malik Nabers in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Nabers, who flashed throughout the spring, is expected to come in and take over the No. 1 role, which the Giants have struggled to fill since trading Odell Beckham Jr. in 2019.

The presence of Nabers takes pressure off the remaining wideouts, including Darius Slayton, who can finally settle into the ideal WR2 role, as well as the young upstarts, Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt.

On paper, the Giants suddenly have what looks to be a formidable wide receiver unit but Pro Football Focus isn’t buying that.

Because of Darren Waller’s retirement and Saquon Barkley’s departure, PFF believes the Giants’ receivers are among the very worst in football.

28. NEW YORK GIANTS

The Giants’ receiver room will go as rookie Malik Nabers goes. If he is a star, Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt could all look like great complementary pieces.

After Darren Waller‘s retirement, Daniel Bellinger and Theo Johnson are the main options at tight end. Subbing out the pass-catching abilities of Saquon Barkley for Devin Singletary is a downgrade, as Singletary hasn’t brought much in the receiving game in his career.

Barkley caught 91 passes for 721 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, which greatly padded his career stats. In the five years since then, he’s hauled in 197 receptions for 1,379 yards and eight touchdowns. He also has a career receiving success rate of 38.1 and a catch percentage of 72.7.

Comparatively, in his five NFL seasons, Singletary has caught 175 passes for 1,164 yards and four touchdowns with a receiving success rate of 45.9 and a catch percentage of 75.8.

How much of a downgrade is that, really?

Losing Waller’s potential hurts but even if he returned, there was no guarantee he could stay on the field anyway. Meanwhile, Theo Johnson looks to be a dynamic option who could surprise in 2024.

The 28th overall ranking aside, it’s clear the Giants upgraded their receivers this offseason. But they’ll have to show it before they get any credit.

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