HOUSTON — Jacob Johnson received his playbook about 30 minutes before the Giants’ flight from New Jersey was set to depart.
Twenty-five hours later, Johnson, without even practicing once with his new team, was on the field for eight offensive snaps during the Giants’ 28-10 loss to the Texans in a preseason game on Saturday.
“I did a lot of practice studying for exams in college,” the University of Tennessee grad told The Washington Post, “so I think some of that has helped me in this job.”
And why carve a path with bone-crushing blocks?
That’s what a fullback like Johnson is supposed to do, and that’s exactly what he did, allowing Eric Gray to score a 13-yard run.
“You don’t need a playbook for that, you just tighten the chin strap and go hit somebody,” Johnson said. “It’s nice to spend a lot of time preparing for moments that may or may not come.”
When he signed on Friday, less than two weeks before cut day, the Germany-born Johnson was a stranger to most of his teammates and coaches, but not to all of them.
Johnson, like the Giants’ three newcomers — right tackle Jermaine El-Hueno, right guard Greg Van Roten and offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo — was with the Raiders last season. Call it a block party.
Johnson had a chance to touch the ball but dropped the pass.
“I told the team not to arrange a hotel room for me,” Johnson said. “I’m going to stay at Jermaine’s house. I know there’s plenty of space there.”
That familiarity was one of the reasons the Giants were considered a likely free-agent destination for Johnson, dating back to the Bricillo hiring. It just took longer than expected.
“We thought we were already in deep water and we were good to go. [season] “We’re going to be ready,” Johnson said, “but you never know what’s going to happen. That’s the way it is in this league.”
The Giants had been using Daniel Bellinger in a pseudo-fullback role because of a lack of opportunities for tight ends.
But Johnson brings 67 games of experience (34 starts) as part of the Patriots’ two-way rushing attack that ranks in the top 10 and will be a key cog in Josh Jacobs’ quest for the 2022 NFL rushing title.
Johnson laughed that halfback Joshua Kelley attended at least one practice after signing with the Giants on Thursday.
He credited trainers in Florida for preparing him during the offseason so he could be “released” quickly.
“Even during those weeks when I was like, ‘I don’t know if this call is going to come,’ they kept me on the right path,” Johnson said. “They made sure I showed up to practice, stayed in shape and was ready for when this call came.”
“Obviously, I thought with a little practice in between, it would work out, but when the opportunity comes, you have to make the most of it. It’ll just be recorded on video and the coaches will make a decision based on that.”
Coach Brian Daboll received a strong recommendation for Johnson from former Patriots fullback James Develin.
“It’s not easy,” Daboll said of Johnson’s pre-practice assignment, “we went and made some plays that he felt comfortable with and called them.”
