EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It would be hard to argue that wide receiver Collin Johnson hasn’t made the most of his opportunities at Giants camp. After being one of the best receivers on the field during Thursday’s preseason opener in New England, he has continued to play during camp this week.
Johnson had by far the most impressive catch of the day on Monday when he made a leaping grab along the sideline to grab a pass from Daniel Jones. The third-year wideout had turned plenty of heads last week when he pulled in seven of the eight passes sent his way for 82 yards and that has earned him time getting reps in with the first and second teams over the past two days.
He was consistently a first-team wide receiver on Monday morning.
“He’s made the most of his opportunities,” Giants head coach Brian Daboll said. “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.”
His only blemish on Thursday was that he fumbled the ball, but he had managed to avoid that up until that point since training camp opened. The effort has certainly not gone unnoticed by those who have watched him play in camp.
It even led Bleacher Report to name Johnson a “backup NFL playmaker likely to blossom in 2022.”
“I’ve just been focused on getting better every day and taking it one day at a time,” Johnson said. “At the end of the day you just have to focus on being the best you can be and I feel like if you do that, when the opportunity comes you’ll make it. I have full confidence when I get an opportunity I’ll make the play because I know the way I work every day. I’m definitely going to keep working and taking advantage of my opportunities.”
At 6’6″ and 220 pounds, Johnson is by far one of the more sizeable receivers on the Giants roster and that has helped him in 1v1 battles on the field and get up for balls thrown high. But what has helped the Giants’ receiver even more so doesn’t have to with that, according to Daboll.
The Giants head coach mentioned being able to put Johnson in different situations and his versatility.
“It’s not so much the size,” he explained. “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.”
For more New York Giants news, turn to AMNY.com
After a season where Johnson had 11 receptions for 105 yards, the 24-year-old out of Texas appears ready to make a big jump this season. With the Giants as banged up as they have been through camp, the opportunities have been there for him to take.
“I’m big on being process-oriented and not so much result-oriented,” Johnson said. “Daboll always harps on that as well and I really took that to heart this camp and it’s really helped me.”
