Theo Johnson Injury News & Updates

Johnson corralled three of four targets for 36 yards in Sunday's Week 11 loss to Green Bay.

Johnson set career-high marks with seven catches for 75 yards the previous Sunday against Chicago, but he went back to something close to his usual level of production versus the Packers. That may have had something to do with a change at QB -- Jaxson Dart (concussion) didn't play, and the Giants elected to go with Jameis Winston rather than Russell Wilson behind center. Johnson's stat line Sunday was slightly better than his averages of 2.9 receptions for 26.6 yards over the first nine games of the campaign, and he seems to have built a decent weekly floor with at least three catches in seven of his past eight contests. Should Dart be able to return to action against Detroit on Sunday, Johnson's outlook would likely bump up a bit.

Johnson caught seven of eight targets for 75 yards in Sunday's 24-20 loss to the Bears.

Johnson set career highs in targets, catches and receiving yards. He has built nice chemistry with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, but Dart exited in the second half due to a concussion. It will be difficult for Johnson to build on this strong outing if he's catching passes from backup quarterback Russell Wilson in Week 11 against the Packers.

Johnson (shoulder) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Johnson had his practice reps capped Wednesday while he was nursing the shoulder issue coming out of the Giants' Week 9 loss to the 49ers, but the injury doesn't look as though it will be anything that prevents him from playing this Sunday in Chicago. The second-year tight end has settled into an elevated role in the New York passing attack in recent weeks, playing at least 80 percent of the snaps in each of the last five games while accruing a 17-173-4 receiving line on 28 targets over that stretch.

Johnson was limited at Wednesday's practice due to a shoulder injury, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Johnson has taken full advantage of his 33 targets over the last six games, hauling in 20 for 190 yards and five touchdowns. All of them have come with rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart directing the offense, but Johnson now is dealing with a health concern. Johnson's status will be monitored as the week goes on to get a sense of his odds to suit up Sunday in Chicago.

Johnson caught three of six targets for 27 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-24 loss to the 49ers.

Johnson capped the opening drive with his fifth touchdown in the past six games, scoring from 15 yards. His five other targets resulted in only 12 yards. Given the plethora of injuries to skill position players for the Giants, Johnson will likely continue to work as one of the team's top contributors in the passing game against the Bears in Week 10.

Johnson caught three of four targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 38-20 loss to the Eagles.

Johnson has scored four touchdowns in his last five games, but the Eagles managed to keep him out of the end zone in both meetings over that span. Fellow Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger exited due to a neck injury, which could open up more targets for Johnson if Bellinger doesn't return in Week 9 against the 49ers.

Johnson had three receptions on seven targets for 66 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 33-32 loss to the Broncos.

Johnson was the beneficiary of good fortune when he caught a tipped pass that was not intended for him for a 41-yard touchdown. It was the 24-year-old's fourth touchdown reception in as many weeks, providing a hot stretch of play for fantasy managers over that span. Johnson continues showing great rapport with rookie QB Jaxson Dart as the team prepares to face Philadelphia for the second time this season.

Johnson brought in two of four targets for 27 yards in the Giants' 34-17 win over the Eagles on Thursday night.

Johnson had flashed with a season-high six receptions and a pair of touchdowns in the Week 5 loss to the Saints on Sunday, but he was a lot quieter four days later despite the Giants' successful night on offense. Nevertheless, he finished with at least four targets for the third straight game, and he appears to have a solid rapport with rookie signal-caller Jaxson Dart heading into a challenging Week 7 road matchup against the Broncos on Sunday, Oct. 19.

Johnson caught six of seven targets for 33 yards and two touchdown in Sunday's 26-14 loss to the Saints.

With Malik Nabers (knee) lost for the season, rookie QB Jaxson Dart turned to the short passing game to keep the offense moving as Johnson and fellow TE Daniel Bellinger combined to haul in 10 passes on 11 targets for 85 yards, while rookie RB Cam Skattebo added a 6-45-0 line on seven targets. Johnson was the only one of the trio to get into the end zone however, catching a one-yard score in the first quarter and a 15-yard strike in second -- Dart's only two TDs of the afternoon. The six catches and seven targets were also season highs for Johnson, and his role in what appears to be a very limited Giants passing attack could remain elevated in Week 6 against the Eagles.

Johnson caught three of five targets for 17 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 21-18 win over the Chargers.

While the volume was modest, the tight end tied with Wan'Dale Robinson for the team lead in targets, and Johnson was on the other end of Jaxson Dart's first career passing TD when he hauled in a three-yard score in the third quarter. The Giants' passing game may have lost Malik Nabers for the season to a torn ACL on Sunday, and while that would be bad news for the offense as a whole, it could lead to more looks for Johnson. He'll take a 9-66-1 line on 15 targets into a Week 5 tilt against the Saints.

Johnson (toe) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Chargers

The Giants listed a slew of pass catchers on the Week 4 injury report, but all have been cleared to play in Jaxson Dart's first NFL start. Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson figure to continue leading the way, but it is possible a few more targets shift toward Johnson and/or Darius Slayton with a new QB taking over.

Johnson (toe) was limited in Thursday's practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

After logging a DNP on Wednesday, Johnson's return to a limited practice puts him on track to play Sunday against the Chargers. Johnson has played 83 percent of the Giants' offensive snaps through three games but has little to show for it in the box score, producing a 6-49-0 receiving line on 10 targets.

Johnson (toe) returned to practice Thursday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

Johnson was absent from Wednesday's session, but a return to practice in any capacity Thursday would seem to put Johnson on track to play Sunday against the Chargers. Johnson has just six catches for 49 scoreless yards on 10 targets through three games to start the season.

Johnson missed Wednesday's practice with a toe injury, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

The good news is that his toe is listed as the problem, rather than his foot. Johnson had Lisfranc surgery on his last December, bringing his rookie season to an early end. He returned healthy for spring practices and has now picked up where he left off in a near-every-down role -- with 87 percent snap share through three weeks -- but Johnson still isn't getting many targets, with 10 percent share ranking fifth on the team. An absence for Week 4 against the Chargers would mean work for Daniel Bellinger, who also has an established track record of low target rates.

Johnson caught one of two targets for 10 yards in Sunday's loss to Kansas City.

Most of New York's pass-catching corps was stifled by a tough Chiefs defense -- even star wideout Malik Nabers got just four targets, catching a mere one pass for 26 yards -- so Johnson's limited production isn't fully on his shoulders. He remained the Giants' clear top tight end in the contest, logging 57 of the team's 66 offensive snaps to 16 snaps for Daniel Bellinger and 13 for Chris Manhertz. With that being said, Johnson has a modest six catches on 10 targets for 49 yards through three games, so he's not an attractive fantasy target, though his outlook could change if New York at some point makes a move away from Russell Wilson at quarterback and instead decides to go with either Jameis Winston or Jaxson Dart behind center.

Johnson caught four of five targets for 34 yards in Sunday's overtime loss to the Cowboys.

After catching just one pass for five yards against Washington in Week 1, Johnson was much more productive Sunday. He actually looked to be in line for a bigger final line after a quick start, as he caught two passes for 20 yards on the team's opening drive. Regardless, this was a nice step in the right direction for Johnson, who was on the field for 56 of the team's 67 offensive snaps while backup TE Daniel Bellinger recorded more snaps on special teams (20) than on offense (19), as did No. 3 TE Chris Manhertz (14 and 17, respectively). Johnson will get a tough matchup in Week 3 against a Chiefs team that has surrendered just five receptions to tight ends through two weeks.

Johnson caught one of three targets for five yards in Sunday's loss to Washington.

Johnson dominated New York's tight-end snaps with 53 to Chris Manhertz's 18 and Daniel Bellinger's 15, but Johnson wasn't able to produce much with the opportunity. Meanwhile, Bellinger secured his only target for 14 yards while Manhertz didn't get any targets. The Giants' passing game -- and offense as a whole -- struggled Sunday, so it's difficult to glean much from individual players' stats on offense. It was at least promising for Johnson's fantasy viability moving forward that he logged such a heavy workload, though he'll likely need to get more balls thrown his way to have a chance of making an impact.

Johnson isn't listed on the injury report for Sunday's season opener at Washington, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Giants coach Brian Daboll confirmed Johnson is "good to go" after making it through training camp and the preseason without any setbacks. It's been a smooth process, at least from a distance, which is perhaps surprising given Johnson's worrisome diagnosis back in December -- a Lisfranc injury that required surgery. The Giants didn't add much competition at tight end this offseason, potentially allowing Johnson to pick up where he left off in a near-every-down role (before the foot injury ended his rookie year).

Johnson caught both his targets for 10 yards in Saturday's 34-25 preseason win over the Bills.

Both of Johnson's receptions came on the Giants' opening drive with Russell Wilson under center, and the duo connected a third time only for the play to be wiped out by a penalty. The second-year tight end missed time as a rookie with a foot injury, but over his final five games in 2024 he posted an intriguing 18-216-1 line on 27 targets. Johnson has been healthy in camp and has some breakout potential given his size and athleticism, as well as the glimpses of chemistry he showed Saturday with Wilson.

Johnson said he wants to play in all 17 of the Giants' regular-season games during the upcoming season, Bobby Kownack of NFL.com reports. "I've been taking my recovery and my health, what I'm putting in my body and everything, more serious than I ever have. I think that's the biggest goal for me is prioritizing my health and wellness and making sure that I'm available and consistent throughout 17 games," the tight end stated.

Johnson missed New York's final five contests last year due to a foot injury, but he is back to full health and has participated in the team's OTAs this offseason. Though he got off to somewhat of a rocky start as a rookie, Johnson had been coming on strong prior to getting hurt, averaging 3.6 catches for 43.2 yards over his final five contests. He'll look to build upon that production as the Giants' top tight end in 2025, and there is potential for more opportunities now that Johnson is working with a revamped QB room that features Russell Wilson, Jameis Wilson and promising rookie Jaxson Dart.

Johnson (foot) is working with the Giant's first-team offense and new quarterback Russell Wilson at OTAs on Wednesday, Connor Hughes of SNY.tv reports.

New York officially kicked off OTAs on Tuesday, but reporters were not allowed in attendance until Wednesday's session, in which Paul Schwartz of the New York Post spotted the second-year tight end taking part in drills without any apparent issues. A 2024 fourth-round pick, Johnson quickly emerged as the Giants' top tight end in his rookie campaign following the offseason retirement of Darren Waller. He logged 29 catches for 331 yards and one score (43 targets) across 12 regular-season appearances before a Lisfranc injury forced him to spend the final five games on IR and undergo surgery. Now healthy, Johnson will work with new quarterbacks Wilson, Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart to attempt to solidify himself as a reliable receiving option behind top wideout Malik Nabers (toe).

Johnson, who was placed on injured reserve Monday due to a season-ending foot injury, has undergone surgery, Patricia Traina of SI.com reports.

Johnson's injury was in the Lisfranc joint and brought an early end to his five-catch, 54-yard performance in a loss to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving and his season. After Darren Waller retired over the summer, the rookie fourth-round selection took over as the Giants' No. 1 tight end and finished his season with 29 catches on 43 targets for 331 yards and a touchdown.

The Giants placed Johnson (foot) on injured reserve Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Johnson won't be eligible to return until the Week 18 regular-season finale, so it's fair to assume his rookie season is likely over after coach Brian Daboll hinted that was the case following the team's Thanksgiving Day loss to the Cowboys. In Johnson's absence, New York will roll with Daniel Bellinger, blocker Chris Manhertz and waiver-wire pickup Greg Dulcich at tight end.

Johnson may miss the rest of the season after injuring his foot during Thursday's loss at Dallas, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.

Coach Brian Daboll informed reporters Friday morning, after Johnson took 89 percent of snaps and caught each of his five targets for a career-high 54 yards during the 27-20 loss to Dallas on Thursday. It was his fifth straight game with at least four targets, three catches and 35 receiving yards, making the rookie fourth-round pick one of the few positives for New York recently. The Giants will be left with Daniel Bellinger, Chris Manhertz and recent addition Greg Dulcich as their tight ends if/when Johnson's rookie season is confirmed to be ending early.

Johnson reeled in all five of his targets for 54 yards during Thursday's 27-20 loss in Dallas.

For a third consecutive week of game prep, Johnson endured practice limitations due to a back injury, but he continues to suit up and handle a consistent role in the Giants' passing game, despite different signal-callers directing the offense. Drew Lock got the call in place of Tommy DeVito (forearm) this week, and while the former didn't look his way until the 4:23 mark of the third quarter, Johnson finished second on the team in catches and receiving yards (both behind rookie Malik Nabers) and third in targets (behind Nabers and Darius Slayton). Johnson's next opportunity to produce is Sunday, Dec. 8 versus the Saints, but who will be under center remains to be seen.

Johnson (back) doesn't have an injury designation for Thursday's game against the Cowboys.

The Giants listed Johnson as a limited participant on practice reports issued Monday through Wednesday, but the team saw enough from the rookie tight end to give him the green light to play Thanksgiving Day. Johnson has seen his involvement in the passing attack gradually pick up as the campaign has unfolded, and he comes into Thursday's contest having accrued a 13-162-1 receiving line on 22 targets over his last four games.

Johnson (back) was a limited participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

With Johnson having been estimated as a limited participant on both of the Giants' first two Week 13 injury reports, he'll have one more chance to potentially upgrade to full activity before Thursday's game against the Cowboys. The rookie tight end has taken on a greater role in the New York passing attack in recent weeks, drawing exactly six targets in each of the Giants' last three games.

Johnson (back) was estimated as a limited participant in Monday's walkthrough practice, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reports.

Johnson has been battling the back issue for a couple weeks, but he's continued to play through it. He's coming off of a 3-39-0 receiving line on six targets against Tampa Bay this past Sunday. Johnson and the Giants have a Thanksgiving Day date with the Cowboys on Thursday.

Johnson secured three of six targets for 39 yards in the Giants' 30-7 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Johnson finished second in targets and third in receiving yards on the afternoon in the first game of Tommy DeVito's current starting stint. The fact the rookie tight end displayed quick chemistry with his new signal-caller allowed Johnson to extend a recent stretch of modestly encouraging play, one that's seen him record at least three catches in four consecutive games. Johnson could continue working as a dependable tertiary option for DeVito in a Week 13 road matchup against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day.

Johnson (back) practiced in full Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Johnson logged his first uncapped session since Week 9 prep as he tended to a back injury, but he still suited up in New York's last game Week 10 against the Panthers in Munich, Germany, gathering in four of six targets for 37 yards. The team may be welcoming back WR Darius Slayton (concussion) to the lineup Sunday versus the Buccaneers, which likely would move Johnson down the pecking order among Giants pass catchers.

Johnson was limited at practice Wednesday due to a back injury, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

On the heels of New York's Week 11 bye, Johnson still is dealing with the back issue that capped his practice reps prior to the team's last game against the Panthers in Munich, Germany on Sunday, Nov. 10. He managed to play 69 of 75 offensive snaps (92 percent) in that contest en route to hauling in four of six targets for 37 yards. Considering the health concern is persisting, Johnson's status will be monitored as the week continues to get a sense of his potential to play Sunday versus the Buccaneers.

Johnson tallied four catches on six targets for 37 yards in Sunday's Week 10 overtime loss to the Panthers in Germany.

Johnson finished third on New York in targets, fourth in receiving yards and tied for third in catches in the defeat. He's by no means putting up elite fantasy numbers, but with at least three catches and 30 yards in five of his past six games, the rookie tight end is at least establishing a reliable floor. Johnson has seen six targets in each of his past two contests, suggesting that he's emerging as an appealing option for quarterback Daniel Jones.

Johnson (knee/back) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against Carolina, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.

Johnson was a limited practice participant Wednesday through Friday but should be fine for his normal workload as the starting tight end this Sunday in Munich. He had a career-high six targets and 51 receiving yards in last week's 27-22 loss to Washington, scoring his first career touchdown in the process.

Johnson (knee/back) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Johnson is operating with a cap on his practice reps this week due to knee and back injuries. He thus has just one more chance to prove his health Friday before the Giants potentially hand him a designation ahead of Sunday's game versus the Panthers in Germany. Chris Manhertz (two targets this season) and Daniel Bellinger (three) are the other tight ends on New York's active roster.

Johnson was limited at Wednesday's practice due to knee and back injuries, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

The rookie fourth-round pick has been rounding into form over the last five games, tallying at least 30 receiving yards on four occasions on his way to a cumulative 14-164-1 line on 18 targets during that span. With a pair of health concerns now in tow, though, his status will be watched as the week goes on to get a sense of his odds to suit up Sunday at Carolina.

Johnson caught three of six targets for 51 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's Week 9 loss to Washington.

Johnson finished second on New York in both targets (six) and receiving yards (51), and each mark was a new career high. The rookie also notched his first NFL touchdown in the defeat, catching a 35-yard pass down the seam with under three minutes remaining in the game. Johnson's production has been on the upswing -- after tallying just three catches over his first four contests, he's recorded at least three catches in four of his subsequent five games. Johnson did fail to reel in multiple catchable passes Sunday, but he's showing enough promise to take a strong hold on the No. 1 tight end role for the 2-7 Giants.

Johnson secured three of four targets for 35 yards in Monday's loss to the Steelers.

Johnson didn't have a pass thrown his way Week 7 versus Philadelphia, but he got back on track with his second-highest yardage total of the season on Monday Night Football. The bulk of his production came on New York's final drive, as he caught a 25-yard pass from QB Daniel Jones with just over a minute remaining in the game, then nabbed a three-yard reception on the next play. Those catches came as the Giants attempted to march down the field and tie the score, but Jones was intercepted on a second-down pass attempt, squelching any hope of a comeback. Johnson ended up logging a season-high 97 percent of the team's offensive snaps in the loss, and with at least three catches and at least 30 receiving yards in three of his past four games, he's built some fantasy intrigue in deeper leagues.

Johnson was not targeted in Sunday's loss to Philadelphia.

The Giants' passing game was abhorrent as a whole Sunday, as Daniel Jones and Drew Lock combined for just 105 passing yards while completing a collective 17 of 29 pass attempts. Daniel Bellinger was the only one of the team's tight ends to even see a target, and he received just one look, which he caught for 11 yards. There's no reason to believe that Bellinger has usurped Johnson on the depth chart since the latter logged 90 percent of New York's offensive snaps in the ugly loss to Bellinger's 12 percent, so Johnson should have an opportunity to bounce back in Week 8 against Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football.

Johnson brought in all three of his targets for 30 yards in Sunday's 17-7 loss to the Bengals.

Johnson followed up his career day with a solid effort against the Bengals on Sunday Night Football. The Giants' rookie tight end had been used sparsely early in the season, but the fourth-rounder is averaging four receptions and 39 yards over his last two contests. Johnson is a name worth monitoring in case his role continues to grow as the season progresses. For now, those in deeper formats can take a look at the tight end ahead of next Sunday's tilt versus the Eagles.

Johnson caught all five of his targets for 48 yards in a 29-20 Week 5 win against the Seahawks on Sunday.

Johnson has worked as New York's starting tight end since the beginning of the season, but through four weeks he had only three catches on eight targets for 37 yards. The rookie exceeded his collective Weeks 1-4 reception and yardage totals in Week 5 on Sunday, finishing third on the Giants in targets, catches and receiving yards. His long gain was a 22-yard catch that set New York up in the red zone on a drive that finished with a Wan'Dale Robinson touchdown reception. Johnson's quiet first four games kept him off the fantasy radar, but managers in need of a tight end may want to keep an eye on him moving forward to see if Johnson can build upon Sunday's performance and establish further rapport with QB Daniel Jones.

Johnson caught his only target for six yards in Thursday's 20-15 loss to Dallas.

Johnson was once again unable to make his mark on offense with New York, securing just one catch for the third time in four games. The tight end played a season-low 71 percent of the offensive snaps as Chris Manhertz and Daniel Bellinger also logged snaps. Johnson has compiled three catches for 37 yards on eight targets over four contests in 2024, remaining an unappealing fantasy option in Brian Daboll's offense.

Johnson caught one of three targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 21-15 victory versus the Browns.

Johnson had an opportunity for a bigger stat line, but QB Daniel Jones overthrew him after the tight end got open in the end zone late in the first half. Though Johnson's production in the win was minimal, he did continue to dominate TE reps for New York, logging 81 percent of the team's offensive snaps to Chris Manhertz's 38 percent and Daniel Bellinger's 36 percent. None among the tight-end group is particularly appealing in fantasy with Daniel Jones distributing the heavy majority of his passes this season to receivers Malik Nabers (37 targets) and Wan'Dale Robinson (24 targets) -- Johnson leads the tight-end corps with a meager seven targets through three games.

Johnson caught one of four targets for 18 yards against Minnesota in Sunday's Week 1 loss.

It was a rough game for New York's offense as a whole, and Johnson played a part in that, as he dropped two potential catches in the first half and was missed by QB Daniel Jones on another play despite getting open. The pair did connect on an 18-yard pass in the fourth quarter, and the positive news for Johnson's outlook moving forward is that he logged 61 offensive snaps (86 percent of the team's total). That seems to put him ahead of Daniel Bellinger (16 offensive snaps) and Chris Manhertz (20, primarily in two tight-end sets) in the tight-end pecking order, though Johnson will likely need to do a better job of helping the offense in order to maintain that status.

Johnson is listed as a fourth-stringer on the Giants' initial preseason depth chart, but Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News notes that the depth chart at tight end doesn't reflect what reporters have seen during practices.

In other words, Johnson is still in the mix to start, despite being a rookie fourth-round pick who opened training camp on the PUP list with a hip injury. He took a lot of first-team reps his second day after being activated, and subsequent reports suggest that's continued into the second week of training camp, albeit with Daniel Bellinger also involved in the first-team offense. Lawrence Cager (hamstring) and Chris Manhertz also are listed ahead of Johnson on the depth chart, but they're specialized players that would be unlikely to play a lot of snaps even if they technically ended up starting. Johnson is the upside play of the bunch, having run a 4.57 40-yard dash at 6-foot-6, 259 pounds. His impressive showing at the NFL Combine led to a selection early in the fourth round, 107th overall, following a college career at Penn State with no more than 34 receptions or 341 yards in any one season (although he did score seven TDs his final year).

Johnson took a majority of first-team reps at Monday's practice, Gabriel Trevino of NJ.com reports.

It's a bit surprising given that Johnson is a rookie fourth-round pick and was just activated from the active/PUP list a day earlier after missing the first few days of training camp with a hip injury. On the other hand, there's not much reason to slow-play his development when the likely alternative at tight end is third-year pro Daniel Bellinger, who struggled with blocking the past two seasons while getting just 63 targets on 512 routes (12.3 percent). Johnson never reached even 350 receiving yards in a season at Penn State, but he has prototypical speed (4.57 combine 40) and size (6-foot-6, 259 pounds) for an NFL tight end.

Johnson took a majority of first-team reps at Monday's practice, Gabriel Trevino of NJ.com reports.

It's a bit surprising given that Johnson is a rookie fourth-round pick and was just activated from the PUP list a day earlier after missing the first few days of training camp with a hip injury. On the other hand, there's not much reason to slow-play his development when the likely alternative at tight end is third-year pro Daniel Bellinger, who struggled with blocking the past two seasons while getting just 63 targets on 512 routes (12.3 percent). Johnson never reached even 350 receiving yards in a season at Penn State, but he has prototypical speed (4.57 combine 40) and size (6-foot-6, 259 pounds) for an NFL tight end.

The Giants activated Johnson (hip) from the active/PUP list Sunday, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.

Johnson sat out the beginning of training camp due to a hip injury, but with his activation he'll log his first practice as a pro Sunday. New York selected Johnson in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the knowledge that Darren Waller could hang up his cleats, which proved to be the case when Waller announced his retirement in June. Johnson will consequently have an opportunity in camp to compete with Daniel Bellinger for the Giants' starting end role for the 2024 campaign.

Giants GM Joe Schoen said Wednesday that Johnson (hip) should return to practice soon, SI's Patricia Traina reports.

The rookie fourth-round pick is on the physically unable to perform list for the start of training camp, slightly delaying what looks to be a fantastic opportunity. The Giants have one of the weakest TE groups in the league after Darren Waller's retirement this summer, potentially giving Johnson a chance to compete with third-year pro Daniel Bellinger for a starting job. Those two are probably the only TEs on the roster with every-down potential, as Jack Stoll and Chris Manhertz are veteran blocking specialists while Lawrence Cager and Tyree Jackson are more like oversized slot receivers. None of the bunch has ever caught more than 34 passes in a season at the NFL or college levels.

The Giants are hopeful that Johnson (hip), who was placed on the PUP list Tuesday, is not dealing with a long-term injury, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Johnson will be eligible to come off the PUP list as soon as he's able to practice, so if his hip issue is indeed short-term he may not have to miss much of training camp. The rookie fourth-round pick has just over three weeks to recover prior to New York's preseason kickoff against the Lions on Aug. 08. When healthy, he figures to compete with Daniel Bellinger for the No. 1 tight end role.

The Giants placed Johnson (undisclosed) on the PUP list Tuesday with an undisclosed injury, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Johnson will be eligible to come off the PUP list any time during training camp or the preseason, when ready to practice, but his expected recovery timetable remains unclear, as does the nature of his injury. The rookie fourth-round pick could have an opportunity to compete with Daniel Bellinger for the starting tight end job, which is wide open in the wake of Darren Waller's retirement, so it would be a notable blow to his prospects if he's forced to miss a substantial portion of camp.

Johnson and Daniel Bellinger will compete to be the Giants' top tight end after Darren Waller decided to retire, NJ.com's Darryl Slater reports.

Johnson ran a 4.57 40 at the combine while checking in at 6-foot-6, 259 pounds, vaulting him to the early fourth round of the 2024 Draft (107th overall) even though he never topped 341 receiving yards in four seasons at Penn State. He did score 11 TDs over his final two years, and there's a nice opportunity for immediate playing time in New York following Waller's retirement. Bellinger is a 2022 fourth-round pick who entered the NFL with a similar profile, having run a 4.63 40 at 6-5, 253, after never topping 357 yards or three TDs in a season during his four years at San Diego State. Bellinger has played 1,262 snaps on offense through two years in the NFL while catching 55 of 63 career targets (87.3 percent), but his low rate of targets per route (12.3 percent) and lack of big performances (single-game high of 43 yards) suggests he may fit better as a No. 2 tight end long term. Johnson thus seems like the more intriguing prospect for fantasy, although he comes with some of the same concerns and is only five