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The Giants have the oft-injured receiver on a one-year contract to find out
Parris Campbell’s injury history is a long one, and it has definitely left its mark on the New York Giants’ new wide receiver.
- In 2019, after being a second-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts, Campbell suffered three separate injuries. He had an abdominal injury, a broken right hand and a broken pedal foot. Campbell only played seven games.
- In 2020, he suffered a concussion in training camp when he was involved in a car accident. He then suffered a season-ending MCL/PCL knee injury. He only played two games.
- In 2021, he suffered another abdominal injury followed by a sprained pedal toe. His season lasted six games.
That means he played just 15 of 49 regular season games, missing 34 games over that three-year span to start his NFL career.
It certainly wasn’t the way anyone dreamed of their NFL career. Campbell, however, thinks adversity has made him better.
“My career is what it was. It was hard, very hard those first three years. Being able to bounce back from every injury I’ve had, I’ve really learned a lot about myself,” Campbell told New York media in a Zoom call on Friday. “I feel like I’ve grown as a man, as a person, as a player, obviously. It’s allowed me to grow in so many different areas because I’ve seen a lot of myself. that I didn’t know I had. I was able to fight and bounce back so many times. It really showed me a lot.
In 2022, Campbell was finally able to stay healthy for a full season. The Colts were awful, 4-12-1, and with Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger and Nick Foles, the quarterback’s play was abysmal. Still, Campbell was a beacon of hope. He showcased the talent that made him the 59th overall selection in 2019, with 63 receptions for 623 yards.
“Being able to play a full 17 (games) is all I ever wanted to do. Considering my career history, that’s all I ever wanted to do. To be able to do that, I ‘ve been blessed, grateful,” Campbell said. “The injuries I had, there were things that were just freak accidents. You couldn’t really write it down. They weren’t avoidable to me. These are things that happened that just happened to be bad luck.
The Giants, looking for more plays at wide receiver, are hoping there will be even more upside than the 25-year-old showed last season. They gave Campbell a one-year, $4.7 million contract, including “earnable” incentives with $2.9 million guaranteed to find out.
Campbell believes his injuries and the revolving quarterback door at Indianapolis last season didn’t allow him to show the full range of his abilities.
“I feel like there’s a lot of things that football fans haven’t seen. I feel like in college, coming into the NFL, I was and I am still a guy who can do a lot of different things on the football field, whether it’s lining up inside in the slot or outside, a lot of things in the middle, plays on the field, ”said Campbell. “I think it’s a big variety in terms of what I can do on the football field. I’m extremely lucky and talented to be able to do those things. I think last year with the Colts, it was just a taste of what I can be in this league, I was just happy to be there for the 17 and to have the opportunity to show what I can do.
Campbell added that “I haven’t really stopped smiling” since signing with the Giants.
“The fact that the staff, the coaches, everyone from top to bottom want me to be a part of it, that’s huge. I’m not going to take that for granted,” Campbell said. “I’m going to give them All I have.”
Campbell and quarterback Daniel Jones have previously discussed working together this offseason.
“I’m training in Arizona right now in the offseason, and he’s like, ‘I have to go to Arizona. Let’s get to work,” Campbell said. “That’s what you want. You’re a new guy coming in, a new piece on offense, and the quarterback is already like, ‘Let’s go. Let’s work together. It’s so welcoming. It’ is so promising.
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