Giants wide receiver Corey Washington

By Michael Eisen

Aug. 4, 2014

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The biggest play of the Giants’ preseason-opening victory over Buffalo was turned in by a player who a) is from Newberry College, b) was waived by the Arizona Cardinals before he set foot in a pro training camp, and c) didn’t join the Giants until May 29.

Corey Washington, a 6-foot-4 receiver, jumped up and reached over cornerback Michael Carter to make a tremendous catch of a Ryan Nassib pass before turning upfield to complete a 73-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter of the Hall of Fame Game Sunday night. It proved to be the game-winning score in the Giants’ 17-13 victory over the Bills in Canton, Ohio.

“Wasn’t that some play by that kid?” Coach Tom Coughlin said on a conference call today. “He has done that in practice a couple of times, where he has done some things that were pretty spectacular that got our attention – one as a gunner, just flat-out running and splitting the double-team and then moving on down the field to make a play on the punt returner. He did that in practice and was recognized and very noticeable, and he has made some of those catches here on the practice field, where he has gone up over the top of people and caught the ball.”

Washington was awarded off waivers to the Giants from the Cardinals shortly after Memorial Day. He had been signed by Arizona as a rookie free agent on May 13 and lasted just 15 days. The Giants quickly scooped him up. In two seasons at Newberry, Washington caught 95 passes for 1,615 yards (17.0-yard avg.) and 22 touchdowns. The North Charleston, S.C. native also played two seasons at Georgia Military College.

Against the Bills, his 73-yard catch-and-run was the longest play of the game by 47 yards.

“We are running it, running it, and running it just as they had run it, run it, run it,” Coughlin said. “Then (they) decided on a first down to take a shot and they took the shot and (cornerback Zack) Bowman picked it off (in the end zone). In this case it works for us, though it was a little underthrown and Corey had to go up over the top and get it and he did. So we have to give him credit, Ryan for getting the ball out there. It could have been a little further, but Corey going up over the top of the defender because of his height and being able to bring the ball down.”

Washington is the Giants’ tallest receiver, with a listed height two inches taller than runner-up Rueben Randle.

“Reuben has gone up over the top of people and caught the ball and he did it,” Coughlin said. “It is something that you notice when you see it, because you’re always thinking can you take the ball off the top of the defender and certainly Corey just showed that he can.”

*Nassib took the majority of the snaps at quarterback, taking over in the second quarter and playing into the fourth. He completed seven of 12 passes for 139 yards, and had an interception nullified by a roughing the passer penalty.

“I thought that Ryan, for the most part, did a good job,” Coughlin said. “The one interception that was overruled, I thought, was a very bad play. I am not sure why that happened. We will have to talk to him about it. For the most part of it, he did direct his team and he did throw the ball well enough and I am sure he is looking forward to continuing his development and getting in the game next week and having more opportunities.”

*Asked if anyone suffered a serious injury last night, Coughlin said tight end Daniel Fells has a bone bruise in his knee.

*The Giants will return to practice tomorrow from 5:40-7:50 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center. The workout is closed to the public because of the One Direction concert at MetLife Stadium.

*Tomorrow, the Giants Training Camp Report can be seen at 6 p.m. on MSG+, followed at 6:30 by the Giants Hall of Fame Weekend Special, featuring special behind-the-scenes access with Michael Strahan, who inducted into the Hall of Fame Saturday night.