Skip to main content

Giants GM Joe Schoen Says WR  Wan'Dale Robinson Could Be Returning Soon

The Giants young receiver, who suffered a late-season ACL tear last year, might be ready for the season's start if all goes well.

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, who has been on the PUP list since the start of camp as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered in Week 11 last season, could be returning sooner than initially thought.  

Giants general manager Joe Schoen, appearing on "The Zach Gelb Show" on CBS Sports Radio, dropped that surprising nugget, saying, "He’ll probably be returning to practice here in a week or so. “We’re excited about him.”

The news is somewhat surprising considering the timing of Robinson's injury (November 22). Normally after suffering a torn ACL, athletes wait a bit to have surgery for the swelling to subside, which in Robinson's case, he did so on December 14.

However, the former University of Kentucky receiver whom the Giants plucked in the second round of last year's draft also revealed that the tear to his ACL was a "clean tear."

Robinson has been ahead of schedule in his rehab, doing some running and agility work on the side during training camp. If he returns within the next week or so, he'll likely be slowly ramped up, much like the Giants have been doing with receiver Sterling Shepard, who also suffered a torn ACL last season.

From a bigger-picture perspective, Robinson's return further muddies up the slot receiver picture. Parris Campbell currently projects to be the top dog at that spot, followed by Cole Beasley, who was signed by the team out of retirement just before the start of camp.

The Giants also have Jamison Crowder, who can play the slot and serve as a return specialist, but Crowder seems to be further down on the unofficial depth chart that the team released Tuesday.

Robinson played in six games last season with three starts. He caught 25 out of 31 passes for 221 yards with one touchdown, with 126 receiving yards coming after the catch. If his speed returns to pre-injury form, Robinson can be a lethal weapon against two-high safety looks from opposing defenses.