The evidence is not there in any conclusive way, shape or form.
There is no tangible reason why Parris Campbell could be the X-factor for the Giants’ offense in 2023.
His body of work thus far in the NFL is underwhelming.
If, as they say, availability is an ability, then Campbell has not shown much of an ability to make himself available.
That was all then. Campbell hopes it is now that counts.
To watch him in the second week of training camp with his new team, there is no sense that he is a newcomer.
He hauls in as many, or more, passes than anyone out there on the grass.
He looks fast, fluid and capable of fulfilling the role of a dangerous slot receiver.
His pickup this spring garnered about as much attention as your favorite burger spot adding whole wheat buns to the menu.
Figure to check it out, eventually, because it might be good for you.
When those lists came out identifying the top additions by teams across the NFL, the name Parris Campbell was not exactly front and center.
Heck, the arrival of another wideout, rookie Jalin Hyatt, in the third round of the draft created more of a stir among Giants fans than the shoulder-shrug reaction when Campbell slipped onto the roster in mid-March.
“For me, personally, I don’t try to get into outside noise, but as a player, as a human, that’s just nature, I’m gonna see it,’’ Campbell said. “I was kind of just wrote off a little bit. I’m not here saying I’m the best thing, but I know I’m a good player. I know what I can do and what I bring to this team. I am confident in myself. Yeah, the injury bug caught me for the first three years, but I got a lot of ball to play. I’m just excited for the opportunity. It’s a breath of fresh air to be with these guys.’’
The passing attack, which added tight end Darren Waller as the marquee pickup via trade, has room for more growth.
Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins were re-signed, and the position is definitely deeper, as far as talent and diverse skill-sets.
Campbell looks as if he will be a big part of the plan.
A second-round pick out of Ohio State in 2019, Campbell played in just seven games as a rookie with the Colts.
He was slowed by a sports hernia and a broken hand, before a broken foot in early December put him on injured reserve for the first time.
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It was not the last time.
In 2020, Campbell tore up his left knee — both the medial collateral and posterior collateral ligaments — in Week 2 and that was it for him.
In 2021, he played just six games, then broke his foot in October while catching a touchdown pass against the Texans.
In three seasons, he had played in 15 of a possible 49 regular season games.
Whenever the arc of his playing career is discussed, Campbell always waits and braces for the inquisition that never fails to come.
“It was injuries, but it was freak accidents. It wasn’t like I was out there pulling hamstrings,’’ Campbell said. “I was breaking bones, stuff that I couldn’t beat.’’
His stay with the Colts was on borrowed time.
In 2022, Campbell finally stayed healthy for an entire season.
In 17 games, he caught 63 passes for 663 yards and three touchdowns for a team in turmoil — cycling through two head coaches (Frank Reich and Jeff Saturday) and three quarterbacks (Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger and Nick Foles).
Coming to the Giants on a one-year deal worth $4.7 million is a chance for Campbell to restart his NFL clock.
He just turned 26 two weeks ago, so he has plenty of tread left on his barely used tires.
Early in camp, Campbell could be seen lining up in the backfield. He did not take a handoff from Daniel Jones, but he did run a route for a touchdown.
That could be what sets Campbell apart on the Giants’ roster: an ability to bring a Deebo Samuel-type dual threat to the field.
Head coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka envision that role for Wan’Dale Robinson, but the Giants’ 2022 second-round pick is expected to start the season on the physically unable to perform list as he recovers from the torn ACL he suffered in late November.
Campbell has running back in his blood.
He played that position at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio — yes, LeBron James’ school — and dabbled at running back at Ohio State.
“I definitely think that’s something in my arsenal,’’ said Campbell, who at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds does not look out of place in the backfield. “The thing about Dabes and Kaf, they’re just moving guys around and trying guys in different spaces, and that’s what I love, because the variety of the offense is going to keep defenses on their toes.’’
