Tag: kenny golladay

Kenny Golladay isn’t looking for a backdoor exit from his nightmarish season. 

After popping up on the Giants’ injury report Wednesday and Thursday as a limited practice participant due to a hamstring injury, Golladay declared he is “all good” and ready to play Sunday against the Lions. There was a thought that the injury might save the Giants from a tough decision on whether to make their highest-paid player a healthy scratch against his former team after he dropped a pass and was benched in the second half against the Texans this past Sunday. 

“I’m ready for whatever,” Golladay, who was limping in the locker room Sunday, said when asked what role he expects. 

Once upon a time, Golladay led the NFL in receiving touchdowns (11 in 2019) for the Lions. Those were much happier — albeit less wealthy — times for Golladay, who has had four games without a catch and four missed games (knee injury) since Week 1. 

“Definitely some good memories there,” Golladay said. “It’s just like a regular game to me. I don’t really get too much involved in all of that [added motivation].” 

Golladay has zero touchdowns in 19 games since signing a four-year, $72 million free-agent contract with the Giants. 

“If you find a home somewhere with a team and they do want to re-sign you, great,” Golladay said. “But if you do everything right and do get a chance to hit the market, that should be almost every player’s wish. It’s almost like you are getting recruited again. They didn’t want me back. Hey, that’s cool. I signed here.” 

Giants fans booed last week when both passes in Golladay’s direction were incomplete. But he still sees himself as the player he was at his peak. 

“I never think less of myself at all,” Golladay said. “I still feel like I can do those type of things. Making opportunities count when they come to you, that’s what it boils down to. You always want to go out there and make up for the mistake you had last time.” 

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Giants captains Julian Love and Graham Gano are auctioning off experiences as part of MetLife’s “Inside the Huddle” initiative to raise money for at-risk youth. The online bidding runs through Nov. 29 and supports the NYPD Foundation’s Harlem Giants and Far Rockaway Giants. MetLife will contribute $30,000 in matching funds. 

Gano is offering a kicking lesson for four people at the training facility. Love is offering a game night — pingpong, cornhole and more — at the facility. 

“I might play lefty if the donation is large enough,” Love joked. “That’s my handicap that I’ll give away. It’s fun. To have a chance to play with an NFL player, I feel like when I was a kid I would jump at the opportunity. Whoever can provide some funds for this good cause, I encourage them to do so.” 

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WR Wan’Dale Robinson (hamstring) was downgraded to a non-participant in practice. If he can’t play Sunday, the Giants will be left with Darius Slayton, Richie James, David Sills (inactive last game), Golladay and newcomer Isaiah Hodgins at receiver. 

Robinson and Golladay both “tightened up stretching a bunch” at practice Wednesday, according to head coach Brian Daboll. 

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LG Josh Ezeudu (neck) was added to the injury report. That created an opportunity for Shane Lemieux, a preseason projected starter who hasn’t played yet because of a toe injury that landed him on injured reserve. 

“Shane will progressively start getting more reps,” Daboll said. 

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DT Dexter Lawrence (back) and OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (illness) both were upgraded to limited participants. No status change for non-participant TE Daniel Bellinger (eye) or limited participants S Dane Belton (clavicle), RT Evan Neal (knee) and OLB Jihad Ward (thumb). 

Daboll said Neal “moved around a little bit” but likely will miss his third straight game Sunday.

Kenny Golladay said all he wanted was an opportunity to make plays. 

And, in one of the biggest moments of Monday night’s NFC clash with the hated rival Cowboys — a 23-16 Giants loss at MetLife Stadium — the controversial receiver got one. 

A big one. 

And, consistent with the way his Giants career has gone since he was signed to that ball-and-chain $72 million contract, Golladay dropped the ball. 

Literally. 

The Giants had just fallen behind the Cowboys 20-13 with 8:30 remaining in the game and they faced a critical third-and-12 from their own 22-yard line. Quarterback Daniel Jones put a pass right onto Golladay’s hands at about the 30-yard line with room to run for more yardage and perhaps gain the first down and keep the drive alive. 

But Golladay, who has been an unwanted Giants story this season for how little he’s been playing despite his massive contract, didn’t look the ball into his hands and left it on the MetLife Stadium turf. 

“I missed one opportunity, which I wish I had back,’’ Golladay said afterward. “Just not looking [the ball] in. I was trying to make a play for the team. Running before you secure the ball, that’s pretty much all that was. Stuff that can’t happen — especially when ‘8’ (Jones) is doing everything to get us the ball and put us in position to win the football game. 

“I want to be a guy that can make that play, so I put that on myself. It was third down and that can’t happen.’’ 

Golladay drew headlines for having played only two snaps in the season opener against the Panthers and calling out the coaches for more playing time and opportunities. After Monday’s game, he didn’t want to make any excuses about his limited playing time having any effect on his drop. 

“It’s very difficult,’’ he said. “I’m beating myself up about it. I definitely wish I could have it back. Whether you’re in rhythm or not, you’ve got to be locked in and be ready.’’ 

Golladay, who was the fourth receiver in the rotation on Monday despite the fact that Kadarius Toney didn’t play because of a hamstring injury, was also part of a key play late in the first half when he caught a pass for a 21-yard gain from Jones to put the Giants in field-goal range in the closing seconds. The Giants trailed 6-3 at the time. 

But the play, a third-and-13 from the Giants 42-yard line that put the ball at the Dallas 37, was nullified when receiver Sterling Shepard was called for a pass interference penalty that appeared on replay to be incidental contact with Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs while Shepard was running his route. 

“That was huge,’’ Golladay said. “It would have put us in field-goal range. That was a bad call. I wish it didn’t happen, but stuff like that is going to happen and you’ve got to fight through it.’’ 

Late in the game, Shepard crumpled to the turf on the Giants’ final offensive play with an apparent non-contact knee injury. Golladay said he “choked up’’ when he saw Shepard go down. 

“It definitely hurt me when I saw him go down and grab his knee,’’ Golladay said. “It still hurts. It almost choked me up a little bit, to be totally honest, because I’ve grown a relationship with him and I know how much he’s put in to coming back [from last season’s Achilles injury] and cares about it.’’