Undrafted rookie wide receivers were not supposed to be making game-altering plays for the New York Giants in 2025.
Yet, there was Beaux Collins on Sunday committing a huge route gaffe that led to a crucial turnover Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
Collins, an undrafted rookie from Notre Dame, publicly atoned for his mistake that led to Kool-Aid McKinstry’s second pick of the game, which sealed the Giants’ fourth loss of the season, 26-14, in the fourth quarter at the Superdome.
Collins had one catch for seven yards Sunday while, of course, filling in for both Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton. Slayton was knocked out by a hamstring injury that will keep him out of New York’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football.
Beaux Collins Apologized For His Route Mistake
Collins caught his first NFL pass and played 28 offensive snaps, the most of his five-game NFL career, as a rash of wideout injuries decimated the Giants receivers room.
Yet, his most impactful play came when he cut a slant route short and enabled McKinstry to undercut him and pick off rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart for the second time in the fourth quarter.
“First and foremost thatâs a play that obviously canât happen,ââ Collins said, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. âWonât happen again. In the heat of the moment I was torn between continuing the run or whipping back out, because the corner cut me off. But in that instance I have to keep going and become a defender on that play.ââ
Dart’s first interception, which was intended for Jalin Hyatt, was more costly — despite the fact it basically was a punt on a fourth-and-6 play — since the Giants had moved into Saints territory.
Still, with Collins’ mistake still felt squally horrible since it came with just 5:11 left and New York down by two scores.
âItâs a horrible feeling, man, especially how the game was going at the time, I didnât do anything to help make it better,ââ Collins said. âComing off the field like that, my bad, man, thatâs all you really can say. You really canât give excuses or anything like that.”
Beaux Collins Still Has The Giants Coaches’ Trust
Giants coaches may be feeding Collins lip service to build him up — especially since they are running out of able-bodied wideouts with Nabers and Slayton out. But Collins still believes he has the trust of his coaches despite his mistake.
“My coaches have told me that multiple times, they believe in the player that I am,ââ Collins said. â[I’m] trusting them and trusting myself and going out there and putting my best foot forward.ââ
Collins has been ahead of veterans like Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Gunner Olszewski, Hyatt and others on the Giants wideout depth chart — by virtue of his catch and the fact he has as many targets as the above-listed trio combined.
So don’t be surprised if Collins ends up with extra catches, or targets, against the Eagles on Thursday night or in the weeks ahead.
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