When the New York Giants selected Kentucky wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson with the 43rd overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, they felt they were getting a player who they could deploy in multiple ways.
The selection was met with some criticism as Robinson fit the prototype of a slot receiver and the Giants had just drafted Kadarius Toney in the first round the year before to pretty much fill that role.
Buy Giants TicketsBut Toney was having issues staying on the field and the new coaching staff and front office were not taken to him, as was illustrated by his trade to Kansas City in October last year.
Robinson began his Giants’ career by starting in the slot in the team’s opener at Tennessee. He had one catch for five years before leaving the game with a knee injury. He would not play again until Week 6.
Robinson was slowly gaining the trust of quarterback Daniel Jones when he was injured again, this time for the season with a torn ACL. It was a shame, too, as Robinson was having his best game as a pro when he went down.
This offseason, the Giants beefed up their receiver room with Robinson scheduled to miss time as he rehabbed the injury. He was still very much in the team’s plans and would rejoin the team when ready.
This past Thursday, Robinson finally got back on the field against San Francisco. He caught four of five targets for 21 yards in the game and it could be a preview of greater things to come. Right now, he is just excited to be back.
“Oh yeah, definitely,” Robinson told reporters on Monday when asked if it felt good to be back on the field again. “Never having to really miss time like that before, definitely cherishing all of the moments being back out there and just wanting to give everything I’ve got with all of the snaps that I’m getting right now. It’s been great though.”
Watching from afar was difficult for Robinson but he stayed close to the team and made sure he was current on all of the other aspects of his job.
“Luckily, I was in all of the meetings and stuff even when I was hurt so it’s really been all kind of the same ever since I was rookie,” he said. “Just trying to keep the same schedule and stay on the same path. I’m just trying to continue to get better each and every day and talking with the older guys just (seeing) if there’s anything I can do better. Just watching tape and stuff like that.”
Robinson was on a ‘pitch count’ Thursday night, something that could continue until he proves he’s durable enough for a full workload.
“It’s definitely a little difficult but I’m just following the plan. Obviously, there’s a plan in place with the training staff and the coaching staff just with me coming nine months off an ACL. I’m just going to follow the plan and just continue to get better each and every day, just let my knee get stronger.”
