Giants’ Johnathan Hankins ‘pretty much fully healthy and full go’
New York Giants defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins #95 lines up against the offense during training camp at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015. Credit: Brad Penner
The Giants rebuilt their defensive line in free agency, signing Olivier Vernon and Damon Harrison while re-signing Jason Pierre-Paul, but perhaps the best news for the team came Monday from the one pillar of that front that the Giants were always expecting back for the 2016 season.
Johnathan Hankins, a fourth-year defensive tackle who missed seven games last season with a torn pectoral, said he will be a full participant in the offseason workouts that began on Monday.
“I’m pretty much fully healthy and full go,” he said on a conference call.
While Hankins wasn’t in the headlines this offseason as much as his new teammates, he certainly will be a pivotal member of the group. Having Harrison beside him should allow Hankins to develop more as a pass rusher. And, after seeing all of the millions of dollars the Giants spent, he should be plenty motivated going into his own contract year.
Hankins insisted that he is not thinking about that.
“I’m just really focused on trying to get to the ultimate goal, which is to win a Super Bowl,” he said.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
