The New York Giants‘ receiving corps has taken multiple hits early on in training camp. Starting receiver Sterling Shepard broke his thumb on the first day of practice while the team’s third receiver tore his ACL on the same day. To make matters worse, newly signed starter Golden Tate has been suspended for four games.
The Giants’ receiving corps is in trouble. What was once one of the team’s strongest position groups is now a topic of comedy on Twitter. The Giants signed two receivers to help patch their new holes, but will it be enough?
Fans of the Giants may not yet know it, but there is a backup receiver on the roster that could fill in and make an impact if given the opportunity. Alonzo Russell has been looking sharp so far in training camp and his solid play could earn him a bigger role in the Giants’ offense this year.
Alonzo Russell Practice Highlights
Alonzo Russel has been a pleasant surprise during training camp so far. Russell is a sizable receiver, standing in at 6-foot-4-inches and weighing 218 pounds. He has the perfect NFL body for a receiver, but it has not amounted to much so far.
That is until this year’s training camp. It seems like 2019 could be the year that Alonzo Russell finally puts it all together. After going undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft, Russell has yet to see any NFL game action. But with the way he has been playing in this year’s training camp, Russell should see some snaps this year.
On the first day of practice, Alonzo made a handful of impressive plays with the third team. Many esteemed Giants reporters have been praising Russell’s play in training camp. Alonzo has been taking advantage of his extra reps since the recent receiver injuries.
Russell’s impressive play with the third team has lead him to play with Daniel Jones and the second team. The two have put together numerous highlights plays in training camp. It will be exciting to see these two connect during the preseason.
Check out this highlight play from Thursday’s practice. Russell pulls in a tough jump-ball touchdown reception off of a perfect back-shoulder fade from Daniel Jones:
Daniel Jones finishes the 2-minute drill with a TD strike today at #GiantsCamp. pic.twitter.com/ri0VuHCVVF
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) July 31, 2019
The Jones To Russell Connection
Alonzo Russell is worth keeping around for the future. Not only is he an underrated talent, but he is also Daniel Jones’s favorite target. Jones has not gotten any playing time with the first team yet. But while playing with the second team, Jones and Russell have displayed a clear connection.
This was a well-placed throw on third down from Daniel Jones to Alonzo Russell that got the ball rolling and moved the chains in the 2-minute drill at the end of practice that ended with Jones to Russell TD. #NYG pic.twitter.com/Qc5TMQokZ4
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) July 31, 2019
It will be exciting to watch these two in game-action during the preseason. If they can continue to demonstrate chemistry, then the Giants will need to hold onto Alonzo Russell and keep him around for the future whenever Daniel Jones takes over as the starting quarterback.