New York Giants rookie tight end Theo Johnson was seen courtside at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, just hours after being ruled out of Sunday’s season finale due to illness.
Theo Johnson, who hadn’t practiced all week and was officially listed as “out” on the Giants’ final injury report, was spotted during the New York Knicks’ home game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Many fans were wondering why and how Johnson was at the game, given that he had been listed as suffering from an illness.
Photo of Theo Johnson at Knicks game draws attention online
Theo Johnson’s appearance was first reported by New York Post reporter Jared Schwartz, and the photo quickly made the rounds on social media.
Schwartz posted a photo of Johnson smiling from his seat on X. The post sparked a range of reactions. Some fans questioned the optics of a player attending a public event while sidelined.
Meanwhile, others pointed out that being listed as ill doesn’t necessarily mean he couldn’t be out in public during his own time.
However, what makes things truly interesting is that Johnson took to social media after the game to claim that he isn’t actually sick, which makes his status on the injury report all the more intriguing.
Rookie tight end to miss second straight game
Theo Johnson is officially listed as out for the New York Giants’ final game of the season, marking his second consecutive absence due to illness.
Reports confirm that he did not participate in practice at any point during the week. There’s no indication that Johnson broke any rules by attending the game, and the Giants have commented on the situation.
Johnson, a rookie out of Penn State, has shown flashes of potential this season despite limited playing time.
His trip to Madison Square Garden was likely innocent — but it served as a talking point, especially with the Giants’ record and rumors of them tanking to secure a high pick in the draft.
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