Giants second-year tight end Theo Johnson believes he's coming into his own.
He started feeling that way in 2024 while entering the stretch run of his rookie campaign, only to be robbed of his final five games due to a foot injury that required surgery.
"I felt it coming on the more comfortable I got," Johnson said on the Giants Huddle podcast. "Just feeling what it's like to be in my groove, like now having an idea, like I've got this many games under my belt, this is what it's gotta look like. Just as it was like, man, I could really finish on a high note this year, the injury happened, which was super discouraging. But encouraging at the same time, because it was like, now I know I'm going to have a full offseason to kind of prepare and figure things out. I definitely felt like I was catching on at the right time. Unfortunately, the injury kind of put a hold on that."
Johnson, selected in the fourth-round of the 2024 draft, came on slowly last season.
He produced only three catches for 37 yards over his first four games, but then he turned a corner. Outside of a Week 7 goose egg on the stat sheet, Johnson delivered at least 30 receiving yards and three receptions in every game he played beyond September, and at the time of his Week 11 injury had amassed 331 yards and a touchdown on 29 catches.
While those numbers may be dwarfed by the rookie outputs of the Lions' Sam LaPorta in 2023 and the Raiders' Brock Bowers last season, those two record-breaking seasons are anomalies at the position.
Johnson represented himself quite well, and with his lessons learned is set to make a bigger impact in 2025.
"Huge, huge difference," he said when asked to describe himself heading into Year 2 compared to last season. "I know what it's like to be a professional football player now. I was learning as I went week by week [as a rookie]."
In order to make the impact, though, Johnson must be available. He's attacked the offseason with that objective in mind.
"The big thing for me this year is I want to play 17 games," Johnson said. "That's the number one priority. 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."
Seated atop the TE depth chart, Johnson is joined by Greg Dulcich, Daniel Bellinger, Chris Manhertz, seventh-round rookie Thomas Fidone II and undrafted free agent Jermaine Terry.
While Johnson noted he's been working on fine-tuning his body in order to finish out blocks -- something especially important for tight ends in head coach Brian Daboll's offense -- there are others, such as Manhertz, who will have that be more of a primary role. Johnson is most liable to do damage as a pass catcher, and he's especially excited to add more to his plate in the receiving game now that he's developed a baseline.
"I think there's a good opportunity for me to do a lot more in the option game this year," Johnson said. "Different things on third downs. All stuff as a tight end you get super excited about, the different concepts and things that really complement my skill set and play style. I think it's gonna be a good mixture of running seams and stuff but working in more intermediate option-type routes, as well."
With any luck, the Giants can find steady quarterback play from expectant starter Russell Wilson or others in the room -- Jameis Winston, Jaxson Dart and Tommy DeVito -- after years of tumult at the position.
Johnson will be there, hopefully for a full season this time around, doing his best to help in that process as an evolved player with a season now under his belt.
