This is what Bryce Ford Wheaton deserved last season.
Nearly a year later, his return journey was complete.
Ford Wheaton signed with the Giants last year as an undrafted free agent out of West Virginia.
After a strong showing in training camp and the preseason, he is one of the final receivers and could potentially earn a spot on at least the practice squad, if not the active roster.
However, Ford Wheaton tore his ACL during the Giants' preseason finale, a 33-24 loss to the Jets on Aug. 26, 2023, and will miss the entire season.
A year and a day later, Ford Wheaton learned he'd been selected to the team on Tuesday as the Giants whittled their roster down to 53 players.
“I'm willing to do whatever it takes,” Ford Wheaton told The Post after practice on Wednesday. “I think that's kind of why I got selected on the team. There's a lot of very talented receivers on the team that got selected in the draft. What they don't do, I'll do. That's my role now: When my turn comes, I'm going to go out there and do my job.”
The decision to keep 24-year-old Ford Wheaton came as something of a surprise.
It's notable that he was selected over veterans Allen Robinson and Isaiah Hodgins, both of whom, especially Robinson, have far more proven track records than Ford Wheaton.
But Ford-Wheaton also plays special teams, which gives him an advantage over Robinson and Hodgins, who don't play special teams.
At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Ford Wheaton is by far the largest receiver on the roster.
Hodgins, who is also 6-foot-3, has also filled that role for the past two years.
He rejoined the Giants' practice squad on Wednesday.
Did he think Ford Wheaton was still here?
“I was nervous because I didn't know what was going to happen,” Ford Wheaton said. “I thought I had a chance, but I didn't know what it was going to be. It was in someone else's hands. I was sitting there, praying, trying to take my mind off things, playing PlayStation.”
Ford Wheaton's second preseason and training camp wasn't as spectacular as the first.
He appeared in all three preseason games but had just two catches for 11 yards and no touchdowns.
There were fewer practice highlights and his place in the pecking order was less clear.
Ford Wheaton didn't even have a set uniform number. In practices and preseason games, he wore No. 6, which punter Jamie Gillan wears, but on Wednesday he was wearing No. 88.
Clearly, he'd done enough to earn that spot, and after a year of delay, it was finally his time to shine with the Giants.
“It felt good because I've overcome a lot of obstacles to get here,” Ford Wheaton said. “It's been an uphill battle. I'm just happy to finally be selected for the team and have a chance to impact the game. … It's been a really tough journey.”
