Giants Daily Blitz Blog

Rookie Randle looks forward to more career firsts

Ramses Barden wasn’t the only receiver to benefit from the bump up after Hakeem Nicks (foot) and Domenik Hixon (concussion) were scratched from Thursday night’s game against Carolina.

Rueben Randle, the Giants’ second-round draft choice, got his first career catch under his belt. While it officially went down as a quiet four-yard pickup late in the first quarter of a 36-7 road win, every stat line has to start somewhere.

“It is worth something being a rookie and getting your first catch,” Randle said on Monday. “But I’m just looking forward to more.”

His first reception was also the first time he had been targeted by Eli Manning this season, and Randle knew there would be a good possibility of it coming in Charlotte given the injuries at the position.

“I just went through it like a normal week,” Randle said. “I just go out every day and get better and try to continue to build trust each and every week with the players around me and also the coaching staff.”

He added: “I’m picking up each and every week, that’s my objective. I’m just trying to progress through things and play faster each and every week as the season goes along. Then hopefully by midseason I’ll be clicking.”

Meanwhile, returning punts has helped the LSU product build a comfort level on an NFL field despite the lack of reps on offense. Randle assumed the role in Week 2 after the coaching staff went with the veteran Hixon in the opener. He has returned three punts for an average of 9.7 yards with a long of 12 (in addition to four fair catches).

“I enjoy returning punts,” Randle said. “That’s a big play for your team. It just gives you confidence that your team has the faith in you to field the ball, get the ball back to the offensive end. That’s a big bonus.”