Montrell Washington dropped the first pass he saw from Jaxson Dart this summer. He's caught everything since while standing out at NY Giants camp.
EAST RUTHERFORD - Montrell Washington apologized to Jaxson Dart after dropping the first pass the prized rookie quarterback threw to him during team drills in New York Giants training camp earlier this summer.
Washington ran a deep corner route and dived for the Dart pass when he did not need to do so, and then the 26-year-old wide receiver could not pull the football in to complete the catch.
The incompletion also came with a promise from Washington: he would not let Dart down again.
"I'm just trying to make as many plays as I can for him," Washington said. "After that [drop], I told him right after that: 'You don’t ever have to worry about that, I'm going to get whatever you throw in the air. It doesn’t matter if it's behind, short, low, I'm going to make the play for you.'"
Washington has been doing just that, bringing back some juice to the No. 80 jersey he wears on his back, digits made famous here over generations from Phil McConkey to Jeremy Shockey and most recently Victor Cruz.
"Everybody has Victor Cruz," he added with a smile. "I'm trying to get 80 ball with Washington on it."
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Washington has put together quite the highlight reel in recent days, working with Dart and the second-team offense and pulling off catches from the routine to the spectacular. In Monday's session, working out of the slot, Washington sprinted past nickel corner Nic Jones on an angle route to the sideline. Dart put the ball where only Washington could get it, but it took a leap and a one-handed grab to finish the play.
"I'm just trying to make a play just to get on the team, to be honest with you," Washington said. "That's just really it, I'm just trying to make plays every day. A play a day - my motto, a play a day, keep the coaches away. So, I'm trying to make as many plays as I can."
Montrell Washington from Jaxson Dart pic.twitter.com/9vw7vlINgf
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) August 4, 2025
Washington, 26, signed a futures contract with the Giants this offseason. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round in 2022, so the first quarterback he tried to impress is the one atop the Giants' depth chart now: Russell Wilson. But Washington insists he is a far better player today and not just because of how he has improved between the lines. His approach is more serious and purposeful, and he puts in the work to get the job he desperately wants.
Washington does have something that Wilson has, and not many other Giants do: a Super Bowl ring. He was with the Kansas City Chiefs the last two years, part of the 2023 championship team even though he was not active for the big game. That also meant he had the chance to work with another future Pro Football Hall of Fame QB in Patrick Mahomes.
Washington has gotten first-team reps, handing slot duties for a handful of recent practices with Wan'Dale Robinson working with the training staff after he took a knee to the quad during one drill session a week ago.
Washington certainly has a fight on his hands to make the Giants' 53-man roster with Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Robinson and Jalin Hyatt ahead of him. He was also a return specialist in college at Samford and got some looks there in Kansas City. Wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette is expected to handle kickoff and punt return duties, but Washington should get chances to impress in the preseason, beginning Saturday against the Bills in Buffalo.
One perceived advantage Washington has if he continues to build rapport with Dart: there's no doubt team brass will be combing through every angle of the first-round quarterback's practice highlights, so Washington will have all those same eyes on him - they'll all see the good, the bad and everything in between, which brings about another level of urgency.
"No matter if it's (Dart), Jameis (Winston), Russ, (Tommy) DeVito," Washington said. "Whoever is out there, it's my job to make the play for them."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Montrell Washington: 'Play a day' mantra fuels quest to make NY Giants
Category: Football
