Former Oregon State Beavers star humbled after signing with the New York Giants’ practice squad

Isaiah Hodgins is going through the highs and lows of the NFL.

The New York Giants wide receiver was cut by the team and signed to the team’s practice squad last week. The demotion was a humbling experience.

“It wasn’t my ideal situation, and it definitely was tough,” Hodgins told Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.

The former Oregon State Beavers star was on the cusp of stardom in 2022. The Giants claimed Hodgins after he was waived by the Buffalo Bills in November 2022 and he immediately made an impact.

Hodgins had 33 catches for 351 yards and four touchdowns in nine games during the regular season. Now the favorite target for quarterback Daniel Jones, Hodgins caught eight passes for 105 yards and a touchdown during the Giants’ 31-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings in a wild card playoff game, becoming just the eighth player in franchise history to post at least 100 receiving yards in a playoff game.

He couldn’t replicate the success during the 2023 season. He posted 21 catches for 230 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games in 2023. However, he started in just nine games and his production diminished as the Giants emphasized speed and quickness at the position.

Hodgins said he didn’t get as many opportunities last season.

“You have to be given the opportunity to show them. In 2022, they were giving me six to 10 targets a game, and I was making the most of them,” Hodgins told reporters. “I truly believe if they were giving me six targets a game, I’d be making the most of them even more. When it gets to be time to show that, I’ll be able to.”

The Giants bolstered the position by using their first-round pick (No. 6) to select wide receiver Malik Nabers in the 2024 NFL draft and the re-signed veteran Darius Slayton. The Giants are also high on Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt. Two other receivers – returner Gunner Olszewski and special teams player Bryce Ford-Wheaton – have value in their versatility

Hodgins spent the entire training camp and preseason working with the second-team offense.

Hodgins and Allen Robinson were the two veteran wide receivers who were cut. The Detroit Lions signed Robinson to their practice squad. Hodgins opted to remain with the Giants.

“You are just moving a lot just for a lot of uncertainty. You go to another practice squad, and they are saying, ‘He’s our main guy. He’ll be the first guy [called] up.’ Is it really the truth?” Hodgins said. “Here, I know the people, I know the system, and I know they have the trust and faith in me to go compete if anything happens.”