Where Will Wan'Dale Robinson Fit into Giants' Passing Game?

Coming off of an ACL tear, what will Wan’Dale Robinson’s role look like in a revamped Giants wide receiver room?

Author:
Andrew Parsaud
Publish date:
Jul 4, 2023 8:00 AM EDT

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Wan’Dale Robinson, Wide Receiver

Height: 5-foot-8 | Weight: 185 pounds
2021 stats: GP 6 / GS 3: 23 catches, 227 yards, 1 TD

Receiver Wan’Dale Robinson was the New York Giants’ second-round draft pick in 2022, a curious selection as many questioned where he might fit in. Regardless, the coaching staff repeatedly said they had a plan for Robinson going into the season, but unfortunately, that plan never really got off the ground.

Robinson got hurt in Week 1 and missed the next four weeks. However, Week 6 is where he started to flash, catching three passes for 37 yards in the Giants’ 24-20 win over the Ravens, including his first career touchdown.

He would then appear in the next four games after that, with a six-catch, 50-yard performance against the Jaguars and a breakout nine-catch, 100-yard game against the Lions before starting his ACL.

Robinson said shortly after his injury that he expects to be ready for Week 1, but that was months ago, and it's not clear just how far along he is in his rehab. If he’s good to go by then, he will certainly have a role in the offense this season, but what will that look like?

The Giants brought in Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder and brought back Sterling Shepard, all guys who can work from the slot. Robinson is young and has upside, but is it enough to put him ahead of the veterans?

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Best Case Scenario

Assuming Robinson is fully healthy by Week 1, he’ll likely be eased into the offense before fully taking on a starting role.

There is some doubt that he'll be able to pass a training camp physical, which would mean he'd start the summer on the PUP list. But when he comes back, the best thing in Robinson’s case is showing that he hasn’t lost a step after injury and outperforming the other slot options on the roster.

Worst Case Scenario

The worst thing that could happen in Robinson’s case is that he cannot recover as quickly as he would’ve hoped from his injury. This could lead to another receiver on the team taking over his potential role.

The one player that could certainly overtake Robinson’s shine is Parris Campbell. Campbell had his fair share of injury issues during his first three years in the league but finally broke out last season and is looking to replicate that success in New York.

Campbell ran with the first team during OTAs amidst Robinson’s absence and will likely remain that slot option until Robinson returns. Even if Robinson returns, maybe the coaching staff still rolls with Campbell until the second-year wideout can prove he’s a better option.

What to Expect in 2023

Robinson will undoubtedly have a role in the offense this year. The question is, how big of a role will it be? Robinson’s been named a potential breakout player by both PFF and the Draft Network, so he has some expectations heading into this season.

If he can return from injury and pick up where he left off, he will become an instant playmaker in this offense. If the recovery process takes longer than expected, he’ll have to share reps with other players on the roster. There are high hopes for the former second-round pick. It’s all up to him to prove the doubters wrong.