The homestretch of the Giants’ season may be seen as a great alternative for Daniel Bellinger to show himself … if he hadn’t already finished so two years in the past.
The third-year tight finish logged 61 snaps final week (his earlier season excessive was simply 26) and tied for the staff lead with 5 catches in opposition to the Saints.
He’s anticipated to be closely concerned once more Sunday because the Giants transfer ahead with out injured rookie Theo Johnson.
It’s the newest twist on an uncommon profession path for Bellinger, who began as a rookie fourth-round decide and completed fifth in receptions (30 in 12 video games) on a playoff staff in 2022.
Since then, the Giants have changed him twice: By buying and selling for Darren Waller in 2023 and drafting Johnson within the fourth spherical in 2024.
“It’s not really what anybody sees for themselves, but it’s football and you can’t bank on it going [upward] all the time,” Bellinger mentioned. “Sometimes it looks like this [up and down]. I have to keep getting better. It’s unfortunate that it’s this type of injury situation that I get an opportunity, but you have to take what you can get in this league.”
Bellinger scored a fourth-quarter landing — his third in a five-game span — when the Giants beat the Ravens in 2022.
Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Ravens might be his thirty seventh since then with out returning to the tip zone.
“It’s above my pay grade. I just do what they ask me to do,” Bellinger mentioned when requested about his de-emphasized position. “I feel like I have the ability to do whatever any tight end can do. My confidence hasn’t fluctuated. I’ve done a good job of staying focused on my details. The idea is, ‘How can we have the best tight end room?’”
When Johnson was wholesome, Bellinger’s position was extra blocking-centric.
With Johnson sidelined for the remainder of the season, Bellinger ought to be capable of flash his dependable fingers extra typically as veteran Chris Manhertz provides to the blocking.
Bellinger credit his one yr with the now-retired Waller, a former Professional Bowler, for educating him the right way to deal with adversity on and off the sphere.
“Belly is a guy we’ve leaned on here for the last couple years, so it was nothing new to us,” offensive coordinator Mike Kafka mentioned. “Whether it’s not getting a lot of touches, whether it’s getting a lot of touches and being a part of the pass game [or] the run game, he’s kind of a Swiss Army knife in that respect.”
DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck/shoulder), LB Bobby Okereke (again), CB Dru Phillips (shoulder) and RG Jon Runyan Jr. (ankle) won’t play.
QB Drew Lock (heel/left elbow) and CB Cor’Dale Flott (quad) are thought-about uncertain.
CB Deonte Banks (rib), OT Chris Hubbard (knee), LB Dyontae Johnson (ankle) and C Austin Schlottman (fibula) are questionable. Johnson and Schlottman would must be activated off of injured reserve.
QB Tim Boyle, who first joined the Giants on Nov. 19, is anticipated to be elevated from the follow squad to function the first backup to Tommy DeVito, with Lock presumably out there in case of emergency. Boyle dressed as Lock’s backup on Thanksgiving in opposition to the Cowboys.
“He’s catching up to speed as fast as he possibly can,” Kafka mentioned. “But he’s a great worker.”
