New York Giants wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson is tipped to start the 2023/24 NFL season on the Reserve/Injured list as he’s still recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
However, the player is being tipped to have a breakout campaign by Pro Football Focus.
Robinson saw his rookie season come to a premature end in 2022 due to said injury.
The former Kentucky star went down while things were going very well for him. He had received 220 of his 229 snaps between Week 6 and Week 11, leading Giants receivers in snaps received and ranking 18th in the NFL.
He seemed well on his way to ending the season as a breakout star before tearing the ligament in a game against the Detroit Lions in Week 10. While NY will have a few more targets to share the offensive snaps amongst – they have added tight end Darren Waller, WR Parris Campbell, and rookie Jalin Hyatt, with Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins set to return – Robinson could have a productive season as a pass catcher.
The 22-year-old was also named as a potential breakout player ahead of last season. The Draft network predicted as much but his season-ending injury took away any possibility.
Robinson went to Western Hills High School in his native Frankfort, Kentucky. He played multiple positions, both on offense and defense, suiting up as a safety, linebacker, receiver, quarterback, running back, punt returner, and kickoff returner. He would commit to Kentucky before walking back on the decision and committing to Nebraska.
The wideout was deployed as a pass rusher and receiver at Nebraska in 2019. He ran for a total of 340 yards on 88 rushes while making 40 catches for 453 receiving yards. The Athletic selected him as an All-American Freshman by The Athletic at the end of the season.
Despite a productive debut campaign, the player saw his role diminish in 2020 as he recorded the same number of scrimmage yards from the previous season in two fewer games. He made 46 rushes for 240 yards and 51 receptions for 461 yards.
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Robinson, who was an honorable All-Big Ten mention by conference coaches at the end of that season, announced he would be entering the transfer portal and committed to Kentucky yet again.
He would be the star catcher on the team, making 104 receptions to 1,334 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games, breaking the Widcats’ single-season record for receptions and yards and helping them win the Citrus Bowl.
Following Robinson’s successful career in Kentucky, sports enthusiasts in the state gained another reason to cheer; in March 2023, Kentucky regulated sports betting. This development added a thrilling layer of engagement for fans, especially when reminiscing about the games where Robinson starred as the star receiver.
He likely still has some supporters following his move to the pros, so there’s still the option of betting on the Giants, who had a pretty good 2022 season as head coach Brian Dabol won the NFL’s Coach of the Year Award.
The Giants took Robinson as the 43rd overall pick in 2022, selecting him in the second round. He made his pro debut in the team’s season opener, starting as a slot receiver against the Tennessee Titans. He made one reception for five yards before going out with a knee injury.
He returned in Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens, making three catches for 37 yards and a touchdown in a 24-20 win. The following game saw him make six catches for 50 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars as he helped the Giants to another victory. He had made nine catches for 100 yards in a loss against the Lions when he sustained a torn ACL.
The Giants will hope Robinson will be available for the start of the season but have other things to worry about now that they’re in a standoff with running back Saquon Barkley, who has said he’s willing to sit out the entire season if he isn’t in receipt of a reasonable offer.
There’s still plenty of time to get a deal done for the RB because there’s still almost a month to go before training camp on July 17. Barkley is due to make $10.1 million in 2023 but wants more guarantees on a long-term contract.