Giants wide receiver admits to playing on broken foot during the postseason
Last season's wild-card win against the Minnesota Vikings marked the New York Giants' first playoff victory since Super Bowl XLVI, thanks in part to the stellar performance of breakout wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins.
The 24-year-old hauled in 8-of-9 targets during his postseason debut, recording 105 receiving yards and one touchdown. While he compiled an impressive stat line, Hodgins' contribution is even more remarkable given that he was fighting through a painful injury far more severe than originally believed.
Just before the matchup, Hodgins landed on the injury report with an ankle issue, which he later showed off on Instagram following the game. However, during a recent appearance on the "2nd Wind Podcast," Hodgins revealed he actually played through a broken foot that was so bothersome that it limited which routes he could run.
"I thought it was just like a high ankle sprain – the ankle was all black and blue," Hodgins said. "[HC Brian Daboll] was all scared. Everyone was like, 'Oh, are you gonna play?' … luckily I was able to go.”
"My ankle was so fat it got to the point that it was like the third quarter of that game, and I was literally telling [RB Saquon Barkley], 'Hey, if I have to run like an in-cut, like we gotta switch sides cuz I can't plant that deep off this foot,’" he continued. "I could do short, intermediate stuff. And I was just like dug in through like the whole time."
After the game, Hodgins' father, former NFL fullback James Hodgins, mentioned how ironic it was that his son had his finest game as a pro while feeling his worst. In response, Hodgins recalled a quote he and his two-time Pro Bowl teammate use as motivation.
"Me and Saquon say it all the time,” Hodgins said. “'You in the deep end, what are you gonna do? You gonna sink or swim.'"
Hodgins, a former sixth-round pick by Buffalo who was claimed off waivers by New York last November, flourished with the Giants, emerging as a reliable target for quarterback Daniel Jones. Over his eight appearances in the regular season, Hodgins ranked third on the team in receiving yards (351) and second in receptions (33) while leading the receiving corps in touchdowns (four).
The encouraging results led to the Giants re-signing Hodgins to a one-year, $870k deal earlier this offseason. Despite the franchise's recent acquisitions of WR Parris Campbell and TE Darren Waller, Hodgins should continue to have a prominent role in New York’s passing attack this fall.
With a full training camp and season in their system, the Giants hope last year's success is a sign of what's to come for Hodgins.
More must-reads: