EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Early in training camp last summer, Wan'Dale Robinson spoke to, as he said, "some guys up there in the front office. They told me I could hit 80 this year."
That's not how fast they expected him to drive, but the number of passes they wanted the Giants' third-year wide receiver to catch this season.
Robinson's first thought was, "Yeah, I can do that."
And he has. As the Giants prepare to play their season finale Sunday in Philadelphia, Robinson has played in all 16 games – the first year he did not miss time with an injury – and has 83 receptions. That's the exact number he had while playing 21 games in his first two seasons, including a rookie year cut to six games by injuries, most notably a torn ACL. He also has career highs with 656 receiving yards and three touchdowns, including one last week in the Giants' 45-33 victory against Indianapolis.
Robinson's notable numbers have been eclipsed by the accomplishments of rookie Malik Nabers, who has 104 catches, 1,140 yards and six touchdowns. But to his coaches and teammates, Robinson is anything but an unsung contributor.
"His production certainly speaks for itself," receivers coach Mike Groh said today. "He does so many things for us offensively that probably go unnoticed. I think Wan'Dale has really improved as a blocker and his ability to sustain, he's super tough and he competes on every down, and he's been able to create separation and just been a really reliable and dependable performer every week."
Robinson has been at his best on third down, when he has caught an NFL-high 32 passes. That's two more than Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown, who was this week was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl.
"That's what I want my staple to be," Robinson said. "That I'm a reliable guy on third down and you can always count on me to get open and go out there and make plays."
Why is Robinson so reliable on that crucial down?
"He's where he's supposed to be when he's supposed to be there," Groh said. "He's been able to create some separation. Some of that is scheme oriented, but he's made those plays when they've come to him."
Robinson said Nabers deserves some of the credit for his success on third down because of the attention he receives.
"Especially third-and-six or less," Robinson said. "It's a lot of man coverage and I feel like that's what I do pretty well against. Having Malik being the number one guy, sometimes he's getting doubled, so that leaves me with single coverage a lot."
A deep dive into Robinson's numbers reveal just how special his season has been. His 83 catches are the most in Giants history by a player who did not lead the team in receptions. The former mark of 77 was set in 2018 by Odell Beckham, Jr., who was 14 behind team leader Saquon Barkley. Robinson also has the highest number of catches by a second-ranked receiver this week; Miami tight end Jonnu Smith is second with 79.
The 187 combined catches by Nabers and Robinson are 19 more than the previous record for a Giants duo – 168 by Barkley and Beckham six years ago. Nabers and Robinson are in a close race to be the NFL's most productive tandem this season; Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and Las Vegas' Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers each have 186.
"We're excited about that," Robinson said. "But obviously we want wins and what comes with that. We just hope there's more years to come and we can continue to do that."
The prolific duo needs 13 catches vs. the Eagles to reach 200 for the season.
"I think that's what we both want," Robinson said.
"Obviously, we'd like to be talking about other things beyond these things," Groh said. "But I think it just speaks to the way that these guys have showed up each and every week, starting on Wednesdays and the way that they've prepared and invested in what the plan has been and then maximized it.
"There are opportunities in every game and you gotta be able to do that and you earn the trust of the quarterback when you do that. I know we've had several different guys back there this year, so they've been able to earn the trust of the guys that have played that position. I think, again, that speaks to the work that they put in, both during practice and their own and communicating with the quarterbacks."
Robinson hopes to help the Giants put a happy ending on their disappointing season with a victory against the Eagles. If he catches seven passes, he will have 90 receptions, a figure reached only six times in Giants history, three times by Beckham.
"That would mean a lot," Robinson said. "It shows the faith that Dabs (coach Brian Daboll) and them had in me to try to dial my number that many times and shows the faith all four quarterbacks have had me."
No matter how many catches he finishes the season with, Robinson hopes it is not his career high for long. He wants to join Beckham, Nabers, and Steve Smith as the only Giants to hit triple digits. Robinson has visited that territory before; in his one season at the University of Kentucky in 2021, he had 104 receptions for 1,334 yards and seven touchdowns.
"I definitely think 100 catches is gonna be a goal of mine," Robinson said. "Since I've done it before in my life, I think I would always want to do it again."
Maybe that can be his goal in 2025.
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2024 cycle.
*The Giants declared four players out of the game Sunday in Philadelphia: linebacker Micah McFadden (neck), center John Michael Schmitz (ankle), tackle Evan Neal (rib/hip) and defensive back Greg Stroman (shin).
Daboll said Chris Hubbard or Tyre Phillips will play right tackle in Neal's absence. No matter who plays, the Giants will use their 10th different offensive line combination, tying both their 2023 total and New England for the NFL's highest total this season (unless the Patriots use an 11th on Sunday).
*Defensive lineman Armon Watts was placed on injured reserve for the second time this season after undergoing surgery on his knee this week. Watts was injured in the Giants' victory against the Colts.
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