Return of Wan’Dale Robinson could spark Giants’ passing game

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JULY 28: Wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson #17 of the New York Giants (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JULY 28: Wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson #17 of the New York Giants (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

The New York Giants have to be over the moon with their 4-1 start to the season, but they could look to take a few steps forward as an offensive team. Losing weapons like Sterling Shephard and Wan’Dale Robinson has made it tough for Daniel Jones to be an effective passer.

Robinson and Kadarius Toney were supposed to be the heralds of a new Giants offense due to their speed and playmaking ability, but both top-50 picks have been injured for most of their respective Giants careers. At least it sounds like Robinson is closer to rejoining the team.

Robinson is hoping to play against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6. After suffering an MCL sprain in his first NFL game, Robinson is ready to get back on track. No one may be more thrilled about that than Jones, who has played with a motley crew of pass-catchers so far.

The Ravens are a fantastic team, but they can be a bit susceptible to substantial pass plays. The Giants have had success when using Jones’ deep accuracy, but they rarely have had the personnel to utilize it effectively. Robinson coming back will quite literally change the function of the offense.

Will Wan’Dale Robinson help the New York Giants?

Robinson recorded just one catch in the season-opening win against the Titans, which is by no means an adequate judge of how impactful he can be. With game-breaking speed, he could help Mike Kafka get more vertical in the passing game against a suspect pass defense.

While Jones has been playing well enough to lead the Giants to wins, Kafka hasn’t exactly been running the Patrick Mahomes bomb show offense. The element of speed that Kafka had in Kansas City has been missing, and Robinson could help replicate it.

While there were concerns about his size and how much of his production was inflated by his college scheme, no one had any doubts about his ability to get behind a defense and make big plays. With Toney on the mend once again, Robinson has a golden opportunity to pass him on the depth chart.

Robinson was drafted to be a home-run hitter, and the Giants are going to need quite a few of those against an explosive Baltimore offense and what promises to be an absolute dogfight in the NFC East. Even if the team brings him along gradually, it will be interesting to see how he changes Kafka’s playcalling.

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