Giants' Wan'Dale Robinson gives club, Russell Wilson another key offensive weapon

Dru Phillips  wasn’t surprised at Wan’Dale Robinson’s career-best day last Sunday in Dallas. He had seen the Giants receiver do it for years in their native Kentucky.

As a teenager, Phillips was in awe of Robinson’s high school highlights. It became even more incredible when they were teammates for one year at the University of Kentucky.

“Wan’Dale, he was that guy. Like, this kid’s crazy,” Phillips said. “When he came back to Kentucky that first year, ooh-wee. Short routes, screens, quick game, long, through the middle . . . he’s got it.”

At nickel cornerback, Phillips now deals with Robinson in Giants practices. But the NFL might have to deal with him as well after Robinson posted a career-best 142 receiving yards against the Cowboys.

The fourth-year pro isn’t just a reliable catch-and-run option or the third-down weapon he’s been since the start of last season. With Russell Wilson  leading things under center, the Giants have expanded what he can do downfield.

It has produced hope that the offense can be multi-dimensional after receiver Malik Nabers’   stellar rookie season of 2024. It also has allowed Robinson, who’s in a contract year, to build even more on his promise. He credited Wilson for helping unlock more of what he can do.

“From the moment that Russ got here, he was like, ‘Dude, I know you can get down the field. I’ve seen it,’ ” Robinson recalled. “We worked out together and he was like, ‘I didn’t even know you could run that well just from watching the tape from previous games.’ So he [said], ‘We’re going to make sure that this gets going.’ ”

Robinson had only three catches of at least 30 yards in his first three seasons. He had two such catches against the Cowboys last week, including a career-best 50-yarder. His 32-yard catch on fourth-and-4 in the fourth quarter was his longest touchdown as a pro.

Both came on deep balls, something that hadn’t been part of Robinson’s game with the Giants in the past. But if teams are double-teaming or focusing on Nabers, that means more chances for Robinson to do more than just catch short passes.

“I love how he plays the game. He sees the game well,” Wilson said. “He’s like a quarterback out there playing receiver. He understands everything. He understands his route concepts and where to be and just has a great feel for the game. I also think he’s got this tenacity to him that we love.”

That tenacity made Robinson reliable on third downs; he led the NFL with 34 receptions last year. It has carried over this year with a league-high nine catches on third down through two weeks.

His approach is simple: Be the quarterback’s best friend to keep drives going. Fight even more to get open, especially given that teams will worry about Nabers first.

“Every week I know that third down is going to be a pretty big down for me,” Robinson said. “Just always making sure I’m watching the tape, figuring out what teams are doing, whether they’re showing man, going to zone, showing zone, going to man, just doing a lot of different things.”

The Giants can be more effective by not having to rely so heavily on Nabers. After Week 1, it was Nabers who surprisingly said the offense needs to spread the ball around more.

Wilson obliged and Robinson benefited. He had 10 targets last week to 13 for Nabers. There’s still more opportunities to get Darius Slayton involved, too, as the seven-year veteran has only four targets in two games.

For now, it’s Robinson giving an indication that he can do more than what he has shown. The Giants need it after tying for a league-low 34 pass plays of at least 20 yards last year.

“I think it’s just using those skill guys the best way we can. Using their best assets,” offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said. “And Wan’Dale, even in college, was a downfield threat. He was working routes downfield. So I think as a young player growing in the system and then being able to use them in multiple different ways, that’s just part of our job as coaches — putting him in those positions.”

Robinson agreed. It’s one thing to be Mr. Reliable on third down. It’s another to also make defenses fear you downfield.

“Obviously, you want to be able to make all the explosive plays,” he said. “Any time that I feel like our team calls on my number, I want to be there and do anything to help us get a win.”

That’s something the Giants (0-2) still need as they host Kansas City on Sunday night in their home opener. An offense that looks more dynamic can help change that, especially if Robinson proves he’s ready for a greater role.

Phillips believes so. He saw it in Robinson years before anyone else on the Giants and he’s ready for more to notice him this season.

“To see his full potential, him being used in ways that are really productive for him and this offense,” Phillips said, “it’s really cool to see.”

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.