Giants tight end Theo Johnson was putting together a solid rookie campaign before suffering a foot injury that prematurely ended his season.
“I felt it coming on the more comfortable I got,” Johnson said on the Giants Huddle podcast. “Just feeling what it’s like to be in my groove, like now having an idea, like I’ve got this many games under my belt, this is what it’s gotta look like. Just as it was like, man, I could really finish on a high note this year, the injury happened, which was super discouraging. But encouraging at the same time, because it was like, now I know I’m going to have a full offseason to kind of prepare and figure things out. I definitely felt like I was catching on at the right time. Unfortunately, the injury kind of put a hold on that.”
Johnson, a 2024 fourth-round pick, got off to a slow start last season but looked comfortable down the stretch. He eclipsed 35+ receiving yards in each of his last five games before injury, promising production given the QB instability in New York. While preparing to make a bigger impact in his sophomore season, Johnson is applying the lessons he learned from last year.
“Huge, huge difference,” he said when asked to describe the difference between Year 1 and Year 2. “I know what it’s like to be a professional football player now. I was learning as I went week by week [as a rookie].”
“The big thing for me this year is I want to play 17 games. That’s the number one priority. I’ve been taking my recovery and my health, what I’m putting in my body and everything, more serious than I ever have. I think that’s the biggest goal for me is prioritizing my health and wellness and making sure that I’m available and consistent throughout 17 games.”
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
The Giants have a significantly improved quarterback situation in 2025, with veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston joining first-round pick Jaxson Dart. Consistency is a key factor in the development of young players, and Johnson is looking forward to getting more work as a pass-catcher.
“I think there’s a good opportunity for me to do a lot more in the option game this year,” Johnson said. “Different things on third downs. All stuff as a tight end you get super excited about, the different concepts and things that really complement my skill set and play style. I think it’s gonna be a good mixture of running seams and stuff but working in more intermediate option-type routes, as well.”
The Giants’ tight end room curerntly consists of Theo Johnson, Daniel Bellinger, Chris Manhertz, and Greg Dulcich.
About the Author
