Wan'Dale Robinson waited 305 days for Thursday night.
So did the Giants' coaching staff and Daniel Jones, who wasted no time once the receiver got the green light and dialed up a seven-yard completion on third-and-four on his first snap since Nov. 20, 2022. That was the date the second-round draft choice tore his ACL, ending a nine-catch, 100-yard day as he was just scratching the surface of his rookie campaign.
"Never having to really miss time like that before," Robinson said, "(I'm) definitely cherishing all of the moments being back out there and just wanting to give everything I've got with all of the snaps that I'm getting right now."
The Giants put Robinson on a pitch count in his return. He played just 11 snaps on the road against the 49ers, but the 5-foot-8, 1985-pound Kentucky product squeezed all he could out of them. Targeted five times, Robinson was second on the team with four catches, which he turned into 21 yards.
"I felt fine," Robinson responded when asked if he wondered how the knee would react. "But no, I had no doubts. I wouldn't have wanted to go out there, told the coaching staff and (general manager) Joe (Schoen) and that I was ready to go if I didn't feel confident. It felt good to get back out there and I felt even better after I got out there. Just continue to get the confidence."
Robinson's third-down conversion led to an opening-drive field goal, giving the Giants their first points in an opening half this year. But it turned out to be just a dent. The Giants have been outscored 63-6 in three first halves that have defined their young season.
The 1-2 start came after an offseason that focused on surrounding Daniel Jones with playmakers. Two newcomers, tight end Darren Waller and wide receiver Parris Campbell rank first and second on the team in receptions, but they have yet to find the end zone. Rookie Jalin Hyatt, meanwhile, sparked the historic comeback in Arizona with 89 yards on just two catches, but they remain his only production through three games.
While not an addition, Robinson is looking to be part of those reinforcements as he has been limited to just seven games so far in his career.
"Luckily, I was in all of the meetings and stuff even when I was hurt, so it's really been all kind of the same ever since I was rookie," Robinson said. "Just trying to keep the same schedule and stay on the same path. I'm just trying to continue to get better each and every day and talking with the older guys just (seeing) if there's anything I can do better. Just watching tape and stuff like that."
Robinson added, "We can definitely make the most of our opportunities. I feel like as an offense as a whole, we all have to work together. It's not just one unit it just falls on, all of us have to work together. It works with the offensive line, quarterbacks, running backs, and receivers. Everything plays a part, so we're just going to continue to do our part and just continue to try to get better and do everything we can for Daniel and our offense."
What's done is done.
After playing twice on the road in a five-day span, the Giants have seven days until their next game. They will host the Seattle Seahawks (2-1) on "Monday Night Football" in their third primetime outing in the first four weeks of the season.
"I don't think we're a finished product or anything like that," Robinson said. "We just have to continue to keep working and just keep taking the steps forward and everything will come our way."
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