Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney have aired their frustrations, but the Giants’ wide receivers are both misplaced with their comments right now.
The New York Giants had a disappointing close loss to the Washington Football Team Thursday night. As much as things like that can be overblown, wide receiver Kenny Golladay was visibly upset on the sideline late in the game. Quarterback Daniel Jones appeared to be the lone recipient of ire, but Jones tried to dismiss that after the game.
“I think he was frustrated with the situation, but I don’t think it was to me or anyone in particular,”
“Just plays. I’ve got to do a better job of finding him in some places, and we’ll work through it,” Jones said when asked if Golladay was upset about not getting more targets. “Yeah, I think that is part of it. You certainly want the receivers that want the ball, so we’ll keep working through that.”
Golladay finished the game with three catches for 38 yards, on eight targets. Just one of those targets came in the fourth quarter, which seems likely to be the source of his frustration.
Kenny Golladay not the only Giants WR frustrated with his role
Kadarius Toney played just 19 snaps Thursday night, and he never touched the ball. Via Zack Rosenblatt of NJ.com, the rookie receiver appeared frustrated with head coach Joe Judge on the sideline. After the game, since deleted (naturally), he went to Instagram.
“i don’t be mad, s— just be lame to me,”
The Giants signed Golladay to a four-year, $72 million contract this offseason, and they took Toney 20th overall in April’s draft after trading back in the first round.
Golladay missed significant time during camp and the preseason with a hamstring injury. He openly acknowledged that the Giants’ offense might struggle early due to how many key players missed time or were limited in camp. Two games in, with the second on a short week, his tune has already shifted.
Toney was also among those injured Giants’ players. He missed OTA time with a foot injury, then he tested positive for COVID-19 before camp and dealt with a hamstring injury when camp started. So he’s barely practiced since being drafted, but he surely expected better than 24 snaps and two catches for negative yardage through two games.
Despite a solid outing against Washington, Jones is not without flaws as a quarterback. But he’s also hardly worked with two weapons the Giants invested heavily in this offseason. It’s not ideal for the kinks to have to be worked out in-season, but that’s what will have to be done.
Golladay and Toney’s frustrations are certainly rooted in the Giants’ 0-2 start, and the feeling they can do more if given the chance. But when they get their opportunites going forward, and they will get opportunities as long as they’re healthy, they both better step up. Any continued shortcomings can’t be laid strictly at the feet of Jones, even if it’ll be easy to do.