New York Giants wide receiver Parris Campbell Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Giants WR 'hurt' by team's decision before 'MNF' vs. Packers

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 12/14/23

Parris Campbell has steadily been phased out of the New York Giants offense this year. The wide receiver went through something in Week 14 that he'd never experienced in his five seasons in the league, however.

Campbell was a healthy scratch for New York's "Monday Night Football" home game against the Green Bay Packers. He told Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News that he was stunned by the team's decision.

Giants wide receiver Parris Campbell tells me he was “shocked” and “hurt” by a first career healthy scratch he “really didn’t understand” on Monday.

Campbell was “grateful” that the Giants’ brass gave him the bad news on Sunday, more than 24 hours before the game, and didn’t… pic.twitter.com/1VY6SEg84x
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) December 14, 2023

Since the G-Men didn't play until Monday, they used the extra time to make the choice on Campbell's playing status on Sunday, something that the wideout said he appreciated. Per Leonard though, the 26-year-old was still "frustrated" with the news.

The beat writer added that the "respected vet" felt like he had been "doing things the right way, adding a spark as a kick returner."

Special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey addressed the matter on Thursday.

Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey said today that Gunner Olszewski fair caught his two kick returns Monday because it was a "depth issue, making sure that (we) keep our primary punt returner and not taking a chance at him taking a shot." So Parris Campbell's… https://t.co/OvLukv2vmi
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) December 14, 2023

Campbell capitalized on a career-best 2022 season with the Indianapolis Colts, cashing in on a one-year, $3 million deal with New York in March.

The 2019 second-round pick set career highs in targets (91), receptions (63), receiving yards (623) and receiving touchdowns (three) during his final season with the Colts, while playing in all 17 games (16 starts). Campbell has had to deal with catching passes from a revolving door of quarterbacks with Big Blue (just as he did in Indianapolis), but his numbers have dropped significantly.

The Ohio State product has recorded only 20 catches for 104 scoreless yards on 27 targets across 12 contests (three starts). Campbell has posted just four receptions for 19 yards since Week 6.

For the first time since his rookie year, he's seen time as a kick returner as well, registering eight returns for 191 yards.

More must-reads: