After a strong training camp and preseason, he emerged as a likelihood to earn a spot on at least the practice squad, if not the active roster as one of the last receivers.
A year and one day later, Ford-Wheaton found out Tuesday that he had made the team as the Giants trimmed down to their 53-player roster.
“I’m willing to do anything,” Ford-Wheaton told The Post after practice Wednesday. “I feel like that’s kind of the reason why I made the team. We have a whole bunch of highly talented receivers in the room that were drafted, so what they won’t do is something that I will do. That’s kind of my role right now. When my number is called, it’s going in there and doing my job.”
Giants receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton cools off at practice on Wednesday. N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg
The decision to keep Ford-Wheaton, 24, came somewhat as a surprise.
He notably made the team over veterans Allen Robinson and Isaiah Hodgins, both of whom — particularly Robinson — have way more of a body of work than Ford-Wheaton.
But Ford-Wheaton also plays special teams, which gave him an edge over Robinson and Hodgins, who do not.
Listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Ford-Wheaton is the biggest receiver on the roster by a good margin.
Hodgins, also 6-foot-3, occupied that role the past two years.
He signed back to the Giants practice squad Wednesday.
Did Ford-Wheaton expect to still be here?
“I was nervous, just because you never know,” Ford-Wheaton said. “I thought I had a good chance at it, but you never know. It was in somebody else’s hands. I was sitting there praying a lot, trying to distract myself, playing PlayStation, things like that.”
Ford-Wheaton’s second preseason and training camp was not as eye-popping as his first.
He played in all three preseason games, but recorded just two catches for 11 yards and no touchdowns.
Giants wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton speaks with the media on Wednesday in East Rutherford. N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg
The practice highlights were less frequent. His place in the pecking order was not as clear.
Ford-Wheaton didn’t even have a permanent number. During practice and preseason games, he wore No. 6, which is worn by punter Jamie Gillan, but on Wednesday Ford-Wheaton sported No. 88.
Clearly, he did enough to earn his place. After a one-year delay, his Giants moment is finally here.
“It felt good, because I went through a lot to get to this point,” Ford-Wheaton said. “It was an uphill battle. I’m glad I finally made the team and got a chance to impact the game. … It’s been a hell of a ride.”
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