'The heart of a lion': How Wan'Dale Robinson's journey led to career breakout in NY Giants' victory

EAST RUTHERFORD - It's been about a year since Wan'Dale Robinson decided he would do something unique to preserve the most painful memory of his football career.

In the hours leading up to the procedure to repair the torn ACL in his right knee, the New York Giants' wide receiver began the design of a new tattoo that would hold far more meaning in his return to action with the Giants than initially anticipated.

The image is of a broken clock - set to 12:13 for the date of his surgery, Dec. 13 - with a ladder representing each step of the way in Robinson's journey of "having to progress and fight through adversity" to get back to where he was prior to the injury.

"In the days leading up to surgery, I was like, I'm probably not going to like this big ole scar on my knee, so let's cover it," Robinson told NorthJersey.com back in August for the "All In with Art Stapleton" podcast.

"You can't even tell I have a scar down there now. Everything takes time, so the representation of 12/13, the day I had surgery, started the healing process. I don't like to say I tore my ACL, I like to say I'm repairing my ACL, speaking positive affirmations into existence."

Robinson has certainly done that, and the proof of his return to his old self played out inside the same stadium where he was injured last November. He had a minimum of three game-changing plays in Monday night's 24-22 victory over the Packers, and the Giants might not have prevailed had he not delivered any of them.

The Giants (5-8) will take a three-game winning streak to New Orleans this Sunday just one game out of the playoffs, a stunning development to be sure, and the Saints are in the group of five contenders for the final NFC wild card spot at 6-7.

Tommy DeVito is the undrafted rookie quarterback with a "Jersey juice" storyline and the soaring popularity as one of the most unique underdog stories the Giants have ever seen. He's won three starts in a row and has energized the locker room with his play and personality.

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The Giants have taken their defensive performance to another level, forcing 13 turnovers during their winning streak, with Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence, Bobby Okereke and Tae Banks all taking turns at seizing the spotlight Monday night against the Packers.

But the player who proved vital in the latest triumph is the most diminutive on the roster.

“He’s a little guy, but he’s got [expletive] heart,” safety Xavier McKinney said of the 5-foot-8, 185-pound Robinson, who finished with 115 total yards, including six receptions for 79 yards. “The heart of a lion. It’s not surprising to see what he does out there because you see the same every day in practice.”

The 32-yard run out of the Wildcat with Saquon Barkley receiving the direct snap and giving to Robinson, who set up Barkley's 5-yard touchdown sprint on the next play.

The comeback on the flea flicker that preceded DeVito's touchdown pass to Isaiah Hodgins late in the third quarter.

And that unbelievable route he broke off on the game-winning drive, setting up Randy Bullock's game-winning field goal from 37 yards out with another smooth catch-and-run from DeVito, this one for 32 yards down to the Packers' 22 with 42 seconds remaining.

Toss in the circus catch for 13 yards Robinson made on the Packers’ sideline in the first half, and there's no denying the impact he had in the biggest win of the season.

“Knowing where I was a year ago today, it means a lot,” Robinson said after the game. On the same date a year ago, he was on a flight to Los Angeles to prep for the knee surgery that followed two days later. “Showing all the hard work that was put in and all the people that believed in me to get here.”

The Giants were unsure of how quickly Robinson would return in his recovery, so team brass committed to several veteran insurance policies in the slot: Sterling Shepard, Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder, who was released in the summer when the position stayed relatively healthy.

Robinson impressed the Giants on his road back, providing an emotional boost initially and now the production is starting to come.

"He’s still working back to full health where he can put his foot in the ground," Giants coach Brian Daboll said Tuesday of Robinson, 22. "If you really watch the route that was a huge play for us in the two-minute [drill], the stem that he used and his quickness and explosiveness to get back and beat the leverage of the DB who wanted to stay outside of him. You know, I’d say that’s been a work in progress up to this point, just being able to do those type of things. And I credit him a bunch because he’s fought through – it wasn’t perfect. It’s a tough injury for particularly a guy that uses that quickness and that speed."

Daboll has praised Robinson's explosive quickness, and he plays with an undeniable competitive toughness. He coached wide receivers in New England and mentioned former Patriots Deion Branch, Troy Brown and David Patten – the first two went on to become Super Bowl heroes – as those who profile similar to Robinson.

"Their job is to make sure that we put them in the spots that they can excel, and their route running, but they have to be able to recognize coverages, break off routes when they're supposed to break 'em off, sit when they're supposed to sit, run away," Daboll said. "He's still a young player, but I think the way he approaches the game, I really have a lot of respect for Wan'Dale. I'm glad he's here."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Giants: Wan'Dale Robinson's journey makes breakout even sweeter