New York Giants training camp opens Tuesday, and while most of the depth chart surprisingly feels filled out, there are still a handful of jobs legitimately up for grabs. A few of those will come down to the third phase — and that’s where Dyontae Johnson’s fight begins.
This time last year, Johnson was the name flying around camp reports. The undrafted linebacker out of Toledo turned heads early, got first-team reps, and cracked the preseason starting lineup. His standout preseason game against the Lions earned him the spotlight, until an ankle injury sent all that momentum to the IR list. He didn’t return until late last season, but reminded the team why he stuck in the first place, tallying 11 tackles in the finale against the Eagles.
That carried him into the spring, where the Giants re-signed him on an ERFA deal. But now he’s back at square one in a linebacker room that’s gotten much more competitive than his first go-round.
Dyontae Johnson needs another big summer to avoid being left behind
Special teams will have to be Johnson’s bread and butter. It’s not a glamorous path, but it’s the one with the clearest lane to the roster.
Chris Board and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles were brought in specifically for that role. Ty Summers is already proven in that department. Darius Muasau is flashing upside heading into Year 2. And that’s before even mentioning Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden, who are penciled in as the starters.
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The linebacker usage under defensive coordinator Shane Bowen didn’t exactly open up in 2024, but that could change with the install year behind them. There may be more situational snaps up for grabs this time, especially for players who can hold their own in coverage and bring value on special teams.
Johnson has enough tools in his game to fit the mold — he just has to be consistent.
The G-Men like Johnson. The coaches always have. He’s rangy, aggressive, and he showed enough last year to warrant another look. But that won’t matter if he isn’t a core special teamer this summer. He’s already a long shot to crack the top four at inside linebacker, and the reality is he’ll need to earn his spot all over again — from kickoff coverage to punt return units and everything in between.
Training camp opens Tuesday. The first open practice is Wednesday. If Johnson wants to prove last year wasn’t just a flash, this is the time. The former camp darling needs another strong showing to stay in the building — otherwise, it might be another year lost to the practice squad.