The Giants’ passing game may already be tilting toward its new pecking order, but Theo Johnson is still the name worth watching.
Isaiah Likely made the loudest possible first impression in his Giants debut, scoring twice and living up to the buzz that followed him into the season. Malik Nabers also drew plenty of attention, while rookie Malachi Fields picked up four targets. Johnson, meanwhile, was easy to miss: he caught his lone target for 9 yards and was on the field for just 46 percent of the Giants’ offensive snaps.
That usage stands out because it’s a sharp drop from what Johnson has usually handled. He played 84 percent of the snaps in one season and 86 percent in another, and the former Penn State standout drew strong reviews all summer. That’s why Week 1 raised an eyebrow, even if it doesn’t call his role into question just yet.
The Giants’ tight end setup still points toward involvement for Johnson. Jaxson Dart has long leaned on his tight ends, and the team clearly knows it. Harbaugh and Nagy have understood that from the start, which helps explain the Likely signing and Daniel Bellinger’s departure.
Likely’s arrival was no accident. The 26-year-old had already spent his first seasons with Harbaugh in Baltimore and had flashed as a pass-catching threat.
Bellinger, on the other hand, wasn’t brought back at the price he wanted. The Giants let Saleh, Daboll, and the Titans guarantee the former San Diego State starter $14 million, and he played 28 percent of the Week 1 snaps.
Even with Likely looking like he’s moving into elite tight end territory, Johnson still has a path back into the mix. He had eight games last year with at least five targets, and all of them came after Dart took over as the starter in Week 3.
That’s why Monday night feels like the right spot for Johnson to get back involved. If he delivers in Week 2, he can remind everyone why he was one of Dart’s favorite targets last season.
In Other News...
Rams Hit With Another Frustrating Issue Ahead Of Giants Game
The Rams opened the season with a loss to the 49ers, and the aftermath brought another layer of frustration for a team trying to steady itself before facing the Giants. The NFL levied fines against two Los Angeles players, with Tyler Davis docked $6,225 for a hit on Brock Purdy that involved contact to the head and neck area, while Nate Landman was fined $11,111 for unnecessary roughness tied to helmet use.
For a Rams team already dealing with the sting of a division defeat, the discipline is another unwelcome footnote as the week turns toward New York. The fines will go to the Professional Athletes Foundation and the NFL Foundation, but the larger issue for Los Angeles is keeping its edge without crossing the line, especially with another important game on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Burns Just Became A Much Bigger Giants Money Question
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Burns is signed through 2028, but the structure now gives the Giants another decision point: keep absorbing those future charges, or try to extend him again and smooth everything out before it gets tighter. It is part of a larger financial picture that already includes major upcoming considerations for Andrew Thomas and Kayvon Thibodeaux, which is why Burns has gone from high-end pass rusher to a much bigger roster-planning question. [Read more 🡒]
Giants-Rams Betting Twist Could Change Monday Night Touchdown Picks
Puka Nacuas groin injury is giving Monday nights matchup a different look before the Giants ever take the field. The Rams receiver is reportedly trending in the wrong direction, and that matters for a game that already had plenty of attention because of the betting market around anytime touchdown scorers.
If Nacua is out, the ripple effect reaches beyond Los Angeles and into how this game is being viewed from a Giants perspective. The player pool opens up in different directions, with Isaiah Likely, Davante Adams and Jaxson Dart all drawing consideration, while some options still come with the usual cautions around workload splits and defensive matchups. [Read more 🡒]