About two weeks ago, Houston Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson scored his first NFL touchdown on his birthday and on Sunday, his former Clemson football teammate, Wayne Gallman Jr. did the same thing.
Before Sunday, the 22-year-old was stuck on the New York Giants inactive list and behind veteran running backs Shane Vereen, Orleans Darkwa and starter Paul Perkins. With Darkwa out, Gallman finally got a chance to suit up and, coincidentally, on his 23rd birthday.
The Giants offense has really struggled to run the ball this season and that trend continued on Sunday. Vereen and Perkins combined to rush for 27 yards on 14 carries in the first two quarters.
Gallman entered at the 2:29 mark of the first quarter and rushed for two yards. After Perkins left the third with a rib injury, his second NFL carry netted 13 yards and his second catch was a four-yard touchdown that gave the Giants a 17-16 third quarter advantage.
Wayne Gallman should be our starting running back! #NYGvsTB pic.twitter.com/Zt4dNnczyx
— NY Sports Fan (@saquonburner) October 1, 2017
He finished with 11 carries, 43 rushing yards and a key pass protection block that allowed quarterback Eli Manning to find tight end Rhet Ellison for the go-ahead touchdown.
Underrated play on #NYG Ellison TD: Wayne Gallman with a HUGE goal line block to give his QB an extra step. Stuffed Gholston upright.
— Courtney Fallon (@CourtneyFallon_) October 1, 2017
The Giants did fall to 0-4, when Buccaneers kicker Nick Folk hit a game-winning field goal for the 25-23 win.
With the injuries to Vereen and Darkwa in practice earlier this week, Gallman wasn’t surprised that his number was called. After another disappointing loss for his team, he talked to the media about his workload.
“Nah, nah. Throughout the week, I got a whole lot of reps. Pretty much all the first team reps, short team reps just to make sure the coaches knew what I was doing. So I pretty much had a idea of how much I would be getting today.”
So how was the birthday boy’s first regular season game in the big leagues?
“It was what I imagined. When I went out there it was kind of surreal, but I just made sure that I calmed down, knew what I was doing and made sure I didn’t forget the play.”
After only one half of action, Gallman is already the fourth leading rusher on the team and only 19 yards behind the leader Perkins’ 62 total yards.
Next: RB Travis Etienne ascending up the depth chart
Gallman was always calm and cool at Clemson, and he displayed the same demeanor as the Giants fought for their first win.
Maybe next week, he will get more opportunities and his first win as a pro.