Former Kentucky star Wan’Dale Robinson enjoys career day, but will miss rest of season

Former University of Kentucky star Wan’Dale Robinson delivered his best performance of the season as an NFL rookie on Sunday.

However, by the time his day was over, so was Robinson’s season.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll announced Monday morning that the Kentucky native had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

The Giants have been one of the NFL’s biggest surprises, posting a 7-3 record in Daboll’s first season as head coach. Robinson, a second-round draft pick last spring after setting numerous receiving records in his one season at Kentucky, was just beginning to make an impact for New York when he was struck down.

Robinson caught nine passes for 100 yards in Sunday’s 31-18 loss to the Detroit Lions. Both were career highs for Kentucky’s 2018 Mr. Football out of Western Hills High School in Frankfort.

Robinson finished his rookie season with 23 receptions for 227 yards and one touchdown.

The Giants selected Robinson with the 43rd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the eighth wide receiver chosen in a draft rich with talent at wide-out. He signed a rookie contract worth $9.85 million over four years.

A four-star recruit and the top-ranked player in the state of Kentucky in the 2019 recruiting class, Robinson originally committed to UK but flipped to Nebraska ahead of signing day. He was a spark plug for the Cornhuskers in his two seasons in Lincoln but was dissatisfied with his role and wanted to be closer to family, prompting a transfer ahead of the 2021 season.

A change in offensive philosophy at Kentucky helped bring him to Lexington, and Robinson flourished as a featured receiver in the slot. He set single-season school records for receptions (104) and yardage (1334) and scored seven touchdowns for the Wildcats.