We’ve all faked being sick to get out of something we didn’t want to do. A little cough here. Some sniffles there. Maybe an “I think I’m running a fever” thrown in for good measure. A hearty cough typically gets the job done.
But most of us who are actually sick don’t necessarily put DayQuil into hypergear and show up courtside at Madison Square Garden looking like a million bucks.
But that's kind of exactly what New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson did Friday night after being ruled out of Sunday’s season finale against the Dallas Cowboys with an "illness." Johnson hadn't practiced all week and was officially ruled out on Friday afternoon.
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Yet there he was, living his best life just a few hours later -- wearing sunglasses indoors... at night, no less (fashion) -- vibing as the Knicks lost to the Atlanta Hawks. You tell me how "sick" the 24-year-old looks below:
Theo Johnson here at MSG for the #Knicks game
— Jared Schwartz (@jschwartz115) January 3, 2026
He’s out for Sunday’s #Giants game with an illness… pic.twitter.com/0PjjOBv2Qv
Someone send an ambulance.
The timing here isn’t subtle by any means. The G-Men are still in play for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 Draft if they lose and the Las Vegas Raiders beat the Kansas City Chiefs. So if a few “illnesses” magically happen to pop up, nobody’s really complaining.
Theo Johnson accidentally exposed Giants’ tanking plans at MSG
Johnson has had a good-not-great second season in East Rutherford -- 45 catches on 74 targets, 528 receiving yards, and five scores. He should have done more than enough to hold onto the TE1 role heading into 2026. Sitting him in a game the G-Men would probably rather lose anyway doesn’t exactly scream, "problematic," and it sure won't hurt their draft odds.
This isn’t about calling anyone out, or pretending players don’t get sick. It’s just a little (very) hard to believe that Johnson was too bedridden to play football on Sunday, but totally fine for a night out at MSG Friday night.
At least take the sunglasses off, dude... and maybe the massive smile on your face, too.
Whether it’s a not-so-quiet tank job or just a bad look, the Giants are doing what they have to do. Sunday’s game doesn’t matter at all. It only matters come April. And if this is the shameless route they’re taking, a few more sudden flu-like symptoms might not be the worst thing to happen to this team for the long-game.
Someone should check on Jaxson Dart, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Dexter Lawrence, too. You'd had to see it if they were too sick to play. Let's hope the league doesn't investigate.