New York Giants linebacker Dyontae Johnson could be poised for a breakout season with the club in his third season.
The 2023 UDFA out of Todelo spent his entire rookie season on the Giants’ practice squad and then suffered an ankle sprain during his impressive preseason, which landed him on injured reserve. He was not activated until Christmas Eve and played in the Giants’ final two games of the regular season.
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This year, Johnson joins a mix of inside linebackers that all have the same goal: to make the team. He won’t directly challenge the team’s two starters (Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden) but will have to win a roster spot over three free agents the Giants signed this offseason in Chris Board, Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and Ty Summers.
Johnson is known for his passion and hard work. He is working diligently this offseason.
Johnson will likely get the benefit of the doubt in training camp over the free agents, having been on the team for two seasons. That won’t keep him from going all out to prove himself.
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The Giants took another Toledo product in this year’s draft: defensive lineman Darius Alexander, who was a former teammate of Johnson’s. Alexander said Johnson told him he’d fit right in.
“He told me being in New York, it’s like home again. He loves it down there, and more than anything, we’ve got savages on that football team,” Alexander said. “We’ve got guys ready to go down there and play balls to the wall and play with their head on fire. So, he said when it’s my turn and I come down there, I’ve got to be willing to do the same thing, and I’m ready to do that.”
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants’ Dyontae Johnson training hard ahead of 3rd NFL season