Jalin Hyatt is the Giants’ fourth wide receiver because he has not shown that he warrants more playing time than veteran Darius Slayton.
Hyatt did not leap over Slayton on the depth chart this summer, which is why his usage in the season-opening 28-6 loss to the Vikings was so meager.
Hyatt was on the field for only 16 snaps and he dropped the ball on his only target.
Slayton (three catches for 26 yards) was in for 51 snaps on offense.
Hyatt has rookie Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson and Slayton ahead of him. There were more plays run with multiple tight ends than there were four wide receivers on the field at one time.
“Yeah, he’s our third/fourth receiver,’’ coach Brian Daboll said. “So, you play with Nabers and Wan’Dale [Robinson] is in the slot. And Slayton played the majority of the snaps ahead of Hyatt. We have certain plays and roles for Jalin. And that could change week to week, but this week that’s what it was.’’
Hyatt, a 2023 third-round pick out of Tennessee, has great speed but has yet to convince the coaching staff that he is a more reliable option than Slayton.
As a rookie, Hyatt played in all 17 games last season and had 23 receptions for 373 yards but did not score a touchdown.
Hyatt might be needed for a greater role this Sunday, when the Giants face the Commanders at Northwest Stadium. Slayton is in concussion protocol.
Injury updates: Daboll said CB Nick McCloud (knee) is “more day to day’’ but it could be week to week. KR Gunner Olszewski (groin) will be out “for weeks.’’ And special-teamer Carter Coughlin (pectoral) is out “months.’’
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With Olszewski unavailable, the Giants need a new punt returner. They held tryouts Monday. Slayton muffed his first-ever NFL punt return in the game.
Cor’Dale Flott started as the slot cornerback and played 37 of the 55 snaps on defense even though he worked as a perimeter corner all summer. Rookie Dru Phillips, the slot corner throughout training camp, was on the field for 16 snaps. This sounds as if it were a one-game deal.
“Just getting ready to go here for the first game, we thought that that was the best thing for us,’’ Daboll said. “Now, is that going to stay the same? Probably not, to be honest with you. Flott will probably play outside more. But for this week, that’s what we thought was best.’’
Rookie Darius Muasau started at inside linebacker alongside Bobby Okereke because Micah McFadden was still dealing with the effects of a groin injury from the second preseason game.
McFadden was available, but on a snap-count of 15-20 plays. The decision to keep McFadden on the sideline was made as Muasau showed he could function in his first NFL game.
“If Darius was playing and playing well, we were going to let that go,’’ Daboll said.
Isaiah Simmons, listed as the backup nickel back, played 18 snaps — all on special teams. Daboll explained that rookie Tyler Nubin was one starting safety and the “Money-backer’’ role — the other starting safety — went to Dane Belton.
