The New York Giants are staring down the barrel of a serious problem at the wide receiver position after just four weeks of the 2022 regular season. They’ve already sustained multiple injuries, all the while not getting significant value from guys like Kenny Golladay.
However, the Giants are working with what they have, especially after scheming a win against the Chicago Bears this past Sunday. The team relied heavily on the mobility of Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley on the ground, all while factoring out a thin group of receivers.
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The New York Giants are facing serious adversity at WR:
Kenny Golladay:
Aside from producing next to no value for the Giants lately, Golladay also picked up an injury in the win over Chicago. He sprained his MCL, which will undoubtedly keep him out for several weeks.
Over four games, Golladay has hauled in just two receptions for 22 yards, good for a 33.3% catch rate. After playing 77% of snaps in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans, that number has consistently dropped, landing at 42% against Chicago.
Kadarius Toney:
For every step Kadarius Toney takes forward regarding injuries, he takes 10 steps back. Toney has been dealing with a hamstring injury for quite some time, missing the last pair of games and barely impacting the first two contests of the season.
Everybody knows how talented Kadarius is when healthy and contributing, but he simply can’t stay on the field, therefore, is unreliable. There is hope he can play a bit against the Green Bay Packers Sunday morning, but I wouldn’t bet my money on him being available.
Sterling Shepard:
Veteran receiver Sterling Shepard is coming off an Achilles tear he sustained in the last game of the 2021 season. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL on one of the final plays against the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago, further dampening the wide receiver room. Shepard is known for his energy and reliability in the passing game, so losing him was a significant blow.
Wan’Dale Robinson:
The Giants haven’t had second-round pick Wan’Dale Robinson, since Week 1, when he sustained a knee injury. Robinson is getting close to returning, and with Shepard out for the rest of the season, they will likely feed him the rock consistently. However, he still isn’t fully integrated into the offense, having played less than just one regular season game.
At the very least, the Giants have one or two players on the mend, but for now, they have to settle for a trio of David Sills, Richie James, and Darius Slayton. I wouldn’t expect to see Daniel Jones throw the ball very much against the Packers, rather handing the rock off to Saquon Barkley and relying on his TEs primarily.