Giants rookie TE Johnson starts fast

The rookie receiver has become a record-breaking sensation. The rookie running back is coming off a breakout game. The rookie defensemen have established themselves as established and reliable starters.

The rookie tight end? Statistically, Theo Johnson can't keep up with Malik Nabers, Tyrone Tracy, Dru Phillips or Tyler Nubin, but he continues to patiently chug along in his quest to become the impact player the Giants believed he could become when they were selected him in the fourth round by Penn State in the spring.

Because that’s what tight ends do.

“I'm used to playing this role and not being selfish,” Johnson told Newsday this week. “It’s just part of being a tight end. Of course you want to contribute more in the passing game, but as a tight end it can be very different from week to week. So I just do my job.”

Last week, that job finally expanded to include catching passes. In the win over Seattle, he had five catches on five targets for 48 yards after having just three catches on eight targets for 37 yards in the previous four games. Entering Week 6, the Giants had only thrown the ball to the tight end 15 times, the fewest in the NFL. Daniel Bellinger had the other two.

That's one of the reasons Johnson was hoping — although he didn't necessarily expect it because of the tight end thing — that the trend would continue Sunday night against the Bengals in a prime-time matchup at MetLife Stadium. It was another game where Nabers was sidelined with a concussion like he was in Seattle, which theoretically meant more opportunities for everyone else running back.

Add to that the fact that the Bengals had allowed the most touchdowns to tight ends this season entering the weekend (three) and things were looking good for Johnson.

“If you show that you can handle it, then more will be charged to you,” Johnson said. “We'll see what the plan is and how they continue to use me, but I've shown them I can handle it. “At the end of the day, it's up to the coaches and what they call it.”

Johnson certainly wasn't a headliner in the draft class, but internally the Giants were intrigued by his potential. They also prepared for Darren Waller's retirement, which eventually came later that summer. At 6-6 and 230 pounds, Johnson has the size and skill set that some of the league's top tight ends possess.

“He obviously brings a big body presence in the middle of the field and even on the perimeter where we can match him up with some smaller defenders,” quarterback Daniel Jones said. “We have great confidence in him. I know something was done about the fact that he didn't have as many chances early on, but we have a lot of confidence in him and you saw (last Sunday) what he can do and the physicality, his size and strength in the middle of the game field.”

He was recruited to Penn State University as a receiver, but even when Johnson wasn't technically a tight end, he subconsciously prepared for the job. His favorite player growing up in Ontario, Canada was Rob Gronkowski. Johnson was so impressed with Gronk that he tried to convince his parents and coaches to let him wear a big elbow brace like his hero. . . although he did not have an elbow injury.

There have been signs that Johnson's role could expand as this season progresses.

“Theo is a young player and he continues to develop every day,” offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said this week. “You see it in the meeting rooms. He feels more and more comfortable with it. You can see that on the practice field. I think the more opportunities he gets, the more he will play. This really applies to every young player. You learn what the NFL game is like, you get more comfortable and more confident and Theo does that.”

Johnson knew a strong performance in Sunday's nationally televised game against the Bengals would certainly raise his profile. Maybe he would even become as famous (or play on as many fantasy teams) as Nabers or Tracy. He just didn't necessarily expect it.

“Every week things are called for you, it’s just a matter of whether they call it or not,” he said. “They have a responsibility in the passing game and the running game. Whether you get the ball or not, you play a role in the game plan. I’m just doing my job and making sure I help the team in any way I can.”

It's the tight end way.

Notes and quotes: The Giants honored their 2007 and 2011 Super Bowl championship teams at halftime, and early-arriving fans received a commemorative Tom Coughlin bobblehead. . . Newly signed player Matt Haack made his Giants debut and played his 100th career game. He was brought in when Jamie Gillan suffered a hamstring injury at the end of the week. . . With Gillan, Nabers, RB Devin Singletary (groin) and WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (shoulder) previously ruled out and LB Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) placed on IR, the Giants' only other inactive players were CB Tre Hawkins and G Jake Kubas … Nabers, who did not travel with the team to Seattle last week, was at MetLife Stadium Sunday night.

Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He was previously a beat writer for Newsday's Giants from 2008.