The New York Giants are excited to see what rookie wideout Kadarius Toney can bring to both their offense and special teams. The 20th overall selection in this year’s NFL draft out of Florida, however, has yet to be unleashed due to a positive COVID-19 test and a hamstring issue.
Former Giant legend Plaxico Burress believes the delay in Toney’s lack of meaningful reps this summer in camp is going to affect his development.
“I’m excited to watch him perform,” Burress told NJ Advance Media. “But for a rookie to not have that time out on the football field going into the season, it’s going to be tough. He’s basically just going to be learning on the fly — and those are things that can really hinder you a little bit, as far as getting to where you want to be as a rookie player.”
Toney was limited all summer in practice and did not appear in any of the Giants’ three preseason games. Neither did the Giants’ top free agent addition this offseason, wide receiver Kenny Golladay.
Burress is not as concerned with the veteran acclimating to action after missing the preseason with a hamstring issue.
“I think he’ll be fine,” Burress said. “He’s played a lot of football. I think with his athletic ability, even if things aren’t perfect, he can still make plays on the football.”
Yeah. Burress ‘thinks’ Golladay will be fine. That remains to be seen.
Toney’s slow start to his career, Golladay’s inactivity along with the prolonged return of Kyle Rudolph and Saquon Barkley from surgeries, Evan Engram’s recent injury and the woes plaguing the offensive line, fans are nervous the Giants’ offense may fall flat here in 2021.
Burress says he believes when all is right that Giants will start winning again and thinks quarterback Daniel Jones has “all the tools” to make that happen.
“Going to the Giants game used to be an event,” he said. “It used to be that electricity when you walked into Giants Stadium. You knew there was going to be some excitement. You want to feel that.”
