Braxton Berrios going on injured reserve should have created an opening for Jalin Hyatt. Instead, the Giants are headed in a different direction again.
New York is putting Berrios on IR after he suffered a foot issue in Week 4, which means he’ll miss at least four games. The injury leaves a hole, but not one that appears likely to go to Hyatt. Charlie Jones, who arrived in New York about a month ago, is the likeliest next man up.
Jones has the cleaner path to Berrios’ role because he can handle the kick-return and punt-return duties more naturally. Hyatt could still be in the mix for a more standard receiver job, but that’s not the way this roster is shaping up. Dalen Cambre, another special teamer, is also a candidate for that kind of spot.
The Giants have stayed committed to a three-man receiver rotation through four games: Malik Nabers, rookie Malachi Fields and veteran Darnell Mooney. Those three have accounted for 280 of the team’s 307 routes at wideout, which tells you everything about where the snaps are going. With that kind of structure, elevating Hyatt is simply not at the top of the list.
Even the recent release of fan favorite Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t change much. Beckham was active on game day, but he wasn’t making a real impact before the Giants moved on from him.
His exit briefly seemed like it might clear a lane for Hyatt. It didn’t.
And at this point, it’s fair to ask what Hyatt is actually providing. Since 2024, he has just 13 catches for 97 yards and no touchdowns. The 2023 third-round pick has been an afterthought despite the pedigree that came with his draft slot and the Giants’ long-running issues at receiver.
His broader numbers are even harsher. Among 102 receivers who have run at least 663 routes since entering the league, Hyatt’s 0.71 yards per route run ranks last, behind only the Atlanta Falcons’ Jahan Dotson at 0.73.
For a player once viewed as a promising piece, that’s a rough place to be. And with Berrios out, the Giants still don’t seem ready to turn to Hyatt, even when the depth chart gives them another chance.
In Other News...
Ole Miss Faces A Tough Prep Twist Before Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt is heading into its matchup with Ole Miss with a familiar layer of uncertainty at quarterback. Jared Curtis was unavailable for the Week 5 game against Georgia, and head coach Clark Lea said he is now questionable for the upcoming game against the Rebels as he works his way through recovery. The Commodores are preparing to host Ole Miss with Curtis still listed day-to-day.
For Vanderbilt, the timing adds an obvious wrinkle to a game already carrying plenty of weight. Curtis is progressing, but the staff still does not know whether it can count on him when Ole Miss arrives, leaving the offense to keep grinding through a week in which the quarterback picture remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt May Get One Unexpected Edge Against Ole Miss
Ole Miss and Vanderbilt are set to meet in Nashville with weather now threatening to become part of the story. Tropical Storm Isaias, currently a category 1 hurricane that is forecast to strengthen before weakening, is expected to move north through Alabama into Tennessee by the weekend, raising the possibility of a wet, windy afternoon around the Commodores home field.
Forecasts call for rain and wind to accompany the game, which could tilt the environment toward the kind of messy, possession-by-possession football that often scrambles a favorites rhythm. The outlook is still fluid as the weekend nears, though, so both teams will be watching the skies closely before the 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Fans Will Have Strong Opinions On This Weeks SEC Picks
Week 5 left the SEC picks panel right around break-even, with the staff finishing 21-21 overall and nobody sinking below 3-4. There was still plenty to argue about, though, especially when it came to Vanderbilts trip to Georgia and Missouris surprising road win at Florida, two results that shaped the conversation as much as the standings did. The weekly rundown also reminded readers how the picks game works, with staffers lining up to take shots against the spread across the league.
This weeks board brings another familiar test for anyone following the Commodores closely, because Vanderbilt is back in the spotlight in a matchup that figures to draw plenty of attention from the local audience. Around the rest of the SEC slate, the same formulas and the same debates apply: which underdogs can hang around, which favorites can cover, and which games are ripe for another round of second-guessing once the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]