Giants quarterbacks Daniel Jones, Tyrod Taylor and Tommy DeVito each hit Jalin Hyatt for a completion of 40 yards or more last season.
So far this fall, Hyatt has been nailed to New York’s bench, and the Giants consequently are one of only five NFL teams who have not hit a pass of 40 yards or more through four games.
Star rookie receiver Malik Nabers (concussion) is tracking towards missing Sunday’s game against the Seahawks (3-1) in Seattle, though. So it looks like Week 5 could be Hyatt’s chance to get on the field and possibly ignite the Giants (1-3) down the field.
“The explosive plays are gonna come,” Hyatt said at his locker Wednesday. “We’re capable of doing it here. We will connect, and we will connect soon.”
Hyatt was talking about his confidence in the Giants’ entire offense to create more explosive plays. He said he hopes “Malik’s back” on the field in Seattle.
The entire offense runs through Nabers: He leads the entire NFL with 52 targets, a 35.9% target share and 35 catches. He ranks second in receiving yards (386), and he’s tied for second in touchdown catches (three).
But the Giants are only averaging 15 points per game. They have only accounted for two plays over 30 yards on offense all season: a 43-yard Devin Singletary run in Cleveland in Week 3 and a 39-yard completion to Nabers against the Cowboys last Thursday.
And Jones drew criticism in that 20-15 loss to Dallas for underthrowing a few deep passes that could have been big plays to Darius Slayton and Nabers.
Maybe Hyatt can help. He has played only 19% of the Giants’ offensive snaps so far (51 of 268, to be exact), and has no catches on three targets so far this season.
“D.J. throws a beautiful deep ball,” Hyatt said Wednesday. “We connected so many times in training camp. Now we just have to go do it in a game.”
Get this out of the way first: Jones said “nothing physically” — not his surgically repaired right knee, nothing — is hindering his ability to lead his receivers on deep passes. He has the strength to get it there.
Jones simply said some overthrows early this season — including one to Hyatt on a deep post in Cleveland — led the quarterback to overcorrect a bit too much in the Dallas game.
“I think through the first few weeks, I’d overthrown a few in situations,” Jones said Wednesday. “It felt like giving a guy the chance was the way to go, and then I left some short. So I feel like I’m in a good spot now. I think it’s about just trusting it and throwing it.
“I feel like I’ve thrown the deep ball well through my career,” he added. “I’ve always felt good about that part of my game. So I’m confident I’ll be able to do that well.”
With Jones ready to launch, it is now on Brian Daboll to deploy Hyatt the way offensive coordinator Mike Kafka did as a play-caller last season to maximize the explosiveness of college football’s former Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s top receiver.
In Week 2 of last season in Arizona, for example, Jones hit Hyatt for a 58-yard completion on a deep post.
Hyatt was lined up on the left. Jones play-actioned to Saquon Barkley out of shotgun, drawing the linebackers’ eyes. Tight end Darren Waller ran a deep in at the second level from the right, and Hyatt exploded over top of the Cardinals’ zone for the catch.
In that same game, Jones also hit Hyatt for a 31-yard gain against man coverage.
Hyatt was lined up on the left. Slayton motioned from right to left outside of Hyatt, which turned the rookie into the slot receiver, the position he often manned in college at Tennessee. Hyatt then ran a deep corner route and caught a ball that was thrown a bit late.
When Jones got hurt, Taylor and Hyatt showed a strong rapport.
It is forgotten now, but in a tight loss at Buffalo, a 43-yard Hyatt catch on a deep post from Taylor got called back due to an illegal man downfield penalty on right tackle Evan Neal.
Hyatt was lined up on the right, and after tight end Daniel Bellinger motioned to the left away from him, Waller curved underneath at the second level from left to right, as Hyatt streaked over top and Taylor extended the play for the bomb completion.
Taylor continued to find Hyatt the next week against Washington. Hyatt beat his man for a 33-yard catch on a go-route and a 42-yard reception on a double move, both up the right sideline against single-high safety looks.
When DeVito took over, Hyatt was still a weapon. He caught five passes for 109 yards in a win over the Patriots, including gains of 29, 22 and 41 yards.
He lined up on the left side on the 29 yarder and ran a deep cross to the right sideline. Sterling Shepard carried the second safety deep up the right hash marks with an out-and-up to clear space.
Then Hyatt caught a 22-yard pass on a fade up the left sideline, and he capped it with a 41-yarder up the right sideline on an out-and-up after an absurd throw by DeVito against what looked to be a deep Cover-3.
Taylor later hit Hyatt for an 18-yard gain on a stop route up the right sideline against man coverage in a tight loss to the Rams.
There are reasons, obviously, why Hyatt is not playing this season despite those exciting flashes during his rookie year.
Slayton is a well-rounded, veteran receiver with proven production and a strong rapport with Jones. Robinson is the preferred slot. Nabers was the No. 6 overall pick in April.
And the Giants are max protecting and putting two tight ends on the field often this season, shrinking the amount of three-receiver sets and wideout snaps.
Hyatt also had a measly six catches for 43 yards on 12 targets in the Giants’ final five games of last season. He spoke of needing to improve his consistency entering year two to prove he deserves to stay on the field.
A strong training camp didn’t earn that opportunity. Now, though, a Nabers injury might have opened the door.
Daboll himself said Nabers’ Wednesday absence “will give Jalin more reps today than he’s had in practice.” And more importantly, Jones said he has confidence in No. 13.
“I think Jalin has handled it well,” Jones said. “He’s a pro. He’s a mature guy. You’ve seen it out at practice. He’s continued to show up and make a lot of plays.
“I know it’s frustrating for a guy not to get those opportunities on Sunday, but I [think] he’s handled it well,” the QB continued. “I have a ton of confidence in him out there making plays, changing the game with his speed and ability to get behind the defense. So I know he’ll be ready to go.”
BUMPS, BRUISES AND NOTES
Nabers, Singletary (groin) and corners Dru Phillips (calf) and Adoree Jackson (calf) did not practice Wednesday. Edge Brian Burns (groin) and Robinson (heel) were limited. And linebacker Matt Adams was a full participant as he ramps up to come off injured reserve from a quad injury … Nabers was fined twice by the NFL for unsportsmanlike conduct for making a “violent gesture” after each of his touchdowns in Cleveland in Week 3. Each fine was $14,069. So that’s a total of $28,138 coming out of the rookie’s pocket … The Giants had some new faces on the field after making a few moves on Tuesday. They signed wide receiver Kearis Jackson and corner Greg Stroman Jr. to their practice squad, and they released tight end Lawrence Cager (injury settlement), corner Alex Johnson and tight end Joel Wilson.
