The Giants have a Braxton Berrios problem, but Jalin Hyatt still doesn’t appear to be the answer.
New York is putting Berrios on injured reserve after the foot issue he suffered in Week 4, which means he’ll miss at least four games. That opens up a spot and creates a need, but the Giants are pointing in another direction - and Hyatt remains on the outside looking in.
Charlie Jones, who arrived in New York about a month ago, looks like the first man to benefit. He’s the cleaner fit to handle Berrios’ work as the primary punt and kick returner, which gives him the early edge in the competition to replace him.
Hyatt could still be in the mix for more conventional receiver depth, but even that path looks crowded. Dalen Cambre, another special teamer, is also in position to compete for that role.
What New York has done through four games tells the story. The Giants have leaned heavily on a three-man receiver group: Malik Nabers, rookie Malachi Fields and veteran Darnell Mooney.
Those three have accounted for 280 of the team’s 307 routes at the position, leaving little room for anyone else to break through. So even with Berrios sidelined, Hyatt isn’t suddenly near the front of the line.
That’s especially notable after the Giants moved on from fan favorite Odell Beckham Jr. He wasn’t making much of an impact before the release, but he was still part of the game-day mix.
His exit seemed to create an opening for Hyatt. Instead, that door appears to have stayed shut.
And Hyatt hasn’t exactly forced the issue.
Since 2024, he has caught just 13 passes for 97 yards and has yet to score. The 2023 third-round pick came into the league with real expectations, but he’s been more of an afterthought than a solution. Among 102 receivers who have run at least 663 routes since he entered the NFL, his 0.71 yards per route run is last, just behind the Atlanta Falcons’ Jahan Dotson at 0.73.
At some point, a fresh start starts to make sense. For now, though, Hyatt remains stuck in the background, and Berrios’ injury is only the latest reminder that the Giants still aren’t turning to him.
In Other News...
Giants Add A Receiver With Ties Fans Definitely Did Not Expect
The Giants are adding another wide receiver to the mix, signing Dontae Fleming to the practice squad after bringing him in for a visit. Fleming has spent time with the Vikings, and his path to New York comes with some unusual familiar faces, including ties to Giants players Dalen Cambre and J.J. McCarthy.
The move also adds another layer to a transaction cycle that has linked the two teams in recent days, with Minnesota signing recently released Giants player Odell Beckham Jr. to its practice squad. For New York, Fleming is a low-risk depth addition, but the connections around him make this a little more interesting than your typical roster shuffle. [Read more 🡒]
Odell Beckham Jr. Just Landed Another NFL Chance After Giants Exit
The Vikings are taking a low-risk look at Odell Beckham Jr., signing the veteran receiver to their practice squad as they try to patch together depth at a position that has been hit hard by injuries, including the absence of Justin Jefferson. Beckhams latest NFL opportunity comes not long after his release from the Giants, giving him a chance to quickly move from a familiar stop back into another contenders orbit.
What happens next is still up in the air, including whether Beckham will be available for the upcoming game against the New Orleans Saints. For a player trying to re-establish himself after leaving New York, Minnesota offers a path back into the conversation, but first he has to get through the week and show he can be more than a short-term depth answer. [Read more 🡒]
Giants May Have An Unexpected Devin Singletary Trade Opening
Devin Singletarys recent status has quietly become one of the more interesting roster clues for the Giants, who have made him a healthy scratch in consecutive games. For a veteran back who arrived with the expectation of being part of the offense, that kind of usage suggests the Giants may already be thinking beyond him, especially with the season moving deeper into the stretch and backfield roles becoming clearer.
Seattle is watching that situation closely. The Seahawks passed on Joe Mixon because of physical concerns and are still looking for help behind their injured running backs, which puts Singletary on the radar as a possible depth add. His contract and his fit as a steady, immediate option make him a logical name in the market, even if the Giants next move on him is still very much to be determined. [Read more 🡒]