How Giants QB Jameis Winston and TE Isaiah Likely quickly found their rhythm

It was two weeks ago that Isaiah Likely spoke about his still-new chemistry with Jameis Winston. Since Likely mostly took reps with Jaxson Dart, he said he and Winston were “fighting like heck” to quickly get on the same page.

Things were awkward their first two games with Winston at quarterback. But the last two games, the connection looks stronger and Winston is trusting Likely as much as he does Malik Nabers.

Likely’s two touchdowns in Sunday’s tie against the Commanders were his first since the tight end had two in the season opener. He also tied his career high with 11 catches. It was the best sign that Likely could still emerge as the weapon the Giants hoped for after he signed a three-year contract this offseason.

“In that game, man, Isaiah Likely, he was so unguardable,” Winston said Tuesday on his podcast, The Jameis Winston Show. “It was so easy to see and I’m happy that we were able to connect, him getting in the end zone.”

Likely has been a reason why the Giants’ offense got back on track. His combination of size (6-4, 245 pounds) and experience helped him be an effective 1-2 punch with Nabers. Winston’s leaned on both heavily as the duo combined for 62.6% of Winston’s targets.

Likely has taken full advantage of the attention. His 33 catches are sixth in the NFL and he’s tied for fourth with four touchdown receptions heading into Sunday’s game against the Saints. Both totals are second among tight ends behind the Cardinals’ Trey McBride.

Eight of Likely’s 11 catches on third down have gone for first downs. All of it has him on pace to shatter his career-best marks in several categories.

In 2024, Likely caught 42 passes for 477 yards and six touchdowns. He’s got 284 yards through five games this season and very little has surprised John Harbaugh, who has coached Likely all of his five seasons.

“He made all these plays in college, but it just looked different,” Harbaugh said Wednesday. “You see it out here, it turns out it's really good what he does. He's elusive, he can get away in man and zone coverage. He's got a great feel, he's got great hands, he has an amazing catch radius. He's an elusive runner, a good strong runner.”

Part of Likely’s emergence is getting more targets as the No. 1 option. In Baltimore, he was often used in two tight end sets with Mark Andrews but Andrews was the primary option.

The Giants also feature a heavy dose of two tight end sets with Likely and Theo Johnson. The difference is now, Likely is the No. 1 option and he’s basically been as productive as a second receiver with more targets.

“He made lots of great plays there,” Harbaugh said of Likely’s Ravens tenure. “But he didn't have as many opportunities there for all those reasons and those reasons were fine. They were good. I was there. Mark Andrews is a great player as well.”

It’s something the Giants need to lean more on. Winston has proved he can be trusted more the last two weeks to let it rip. Since his second interception against the Cardinals in Week Four, he’s thrown four touchdowns in 1 1/2 games.

There’s clearly improvement after Week Two when Winston’s arm looked shot and his throws were off target. Now he’s more in sync with his receivers and Likely has caught 18 passes the last two games.

The running game hasn’t done enough lately to validate balancing an offense more in their favor. There will always be risks with Winston throwing it to the other team but Likely’s play shows why the rewards can be bountiful with him and Nabers.

Likely saw it happening two weeks ago. It took time to get right with Dart and even though they had more time to work, he knew he and Winston would be fine.

"Me and Jax had early mornings, long nights, and that's just the same mantra I'm having with Jameis,” Likely said last month. “I feel like we're taking strides. Obviously, some passes we're going to want back, whether it's me running a route or him throwing the ball, but that's just growing pains in the offense.”

Those pains are easing week by week. Likely’s on pace for his best season and it’s helped the Giants be more productive. The goal this offseason was find a capable second receiver to take the pressure of Nabers.

That receiver wound up being a tight end. Likely is carving out a role Harbaugh imagined he would, and the Giants - and Winston - are seeing the benefits with an offense finding its way without Dart.

Notes & quotes: Linebacker Abdul Carter didn’t practice Wednesday due to a calf injury. Harbaugh said he’s “doing well” but didn’t provide any further updates or when Carter suffered his injury.

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.