The New York Giants have to be pleased with their depth at wide receiver this summer. While their top-end depth of Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney and Wan’Dale Robinson have been injured or underperforming, the back-end of their roster has not.
Collin Johnson, David Sills and Alex Bachman have all flashed throughout training camp and the preseason, and head coach Brian Daboll is beginning to envision significant roles for them.
“The guys that have been out there and producing, Collin Johnson, David Sills, they’ve stepped their game up. And they’re right in the mix, not just to make a team but to play,” Daboll told reporters on Monday. “Everybody’s got to earn their job, earn their role, do a good job of the things they need to do, and make the most of their opportunities when they get them.”
Given the numbers at wide receiver, it may be tricky to find space for Johnson and Sills. Or Bachman and Richie James Jr. One may earn a spot at the expense of wide receiver Darius Slayton, who has been considered a potential trade piece or cap causality this summer, but what about the rest?
Sterling Shepard is inching closer to a return which only further bloats those numbers. But Johnson, Sills and Bachman have all proven to be tough, smart and dependable — exactly what Daboll is looking for in his players.
“That’s definitely something that’s awesome to hear, but there’s constant competition in training camp. I think we’ve had good competition in our room this whole training camp,” Sills said. “We’ve got another week of competing against the Jets and have a joint practice with them so I’m just going to try to put my best foot forward this week, and carry it into the game.
“Hopefully everything will work its way out from that. I’m just going to continue do the same thing that I’ve been doing this whole training camp and try to go out there and like I said, make plays and put my best foot forward.”
Sills has the added benefit of being close with quarterback Daniel Jones. The two regularly spend time together in the offseason with Sills often tagging along wherever Jones goes.
“I definitely don’t think it hurts,” Sills said with a laugh. “We have been able to build a good connection over the last couple years. I think it’s been paying off out there in practice and in the game the other day. He kind of knows where I’m going to be, I know where the ball is going to be. So, it’s something that I had put a lot of time in to get to this point, but like I said earlier it’s not like the job is finished.”
The Giants are in an odd and unexpected spot. It’s been years since they were forced to release good players prior to the start of the regular season, but that’s where they currently find themselves. Unless they decide to do the unthinkable and part ways with Golladay, someone who has played well this summer is going to be cut loose.
