The Giants are turning to Charlie Jones after Braxton Berrios landed on injured reserve with a foot issue from Week 4, and that move says plenty about where Jalin Hyatt stands right now.
Berrios will miss at least four games, which leaves New York short on a familiar piece in the return game. Jones, who arrived about a month ago, is the first player in line to absorb that role. He looks like the cleanest fit to handle Berrios’ duties as the primary punt and kick returner.
Hyatt, though, still isn’t the answer the Giants are reaching for.
On paper, the opening should have created a path for him. New York signed Hyatt to the practice squad after he failed to crack the 53-man roster, so the idea was always that he could provide some insurance. But the Giants seem to be looking elsewhere, even with Berrios out.
That’s partly because the receiver rotation has been locked in. Malik Nabers, rookie Malachi Fields and veteran Darnell Mooney have handled the bulk of the work, running 280 of the team’s 307 routes at wide receiver through four games.
With that trio entrenched, promoting Hyatt is not the obvious move. If the Giants want another body for the offense, Dalen Cambre, another special teamer, could be the one who gets that look instead.
The odd part is that Hyatt’s path seemed even clearer when New York released fan favorite Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham was a non-factor before the cut, but he had still been in the game-day mix.
His exit looked like it might open the door for Hyatt. Instead, the door still seems shut.
And the reason is hard to miss. Hyatt has caught just 13 passes for 97 scoreless yards since 2024. The 2023 third-round pick has not come close to living up to the expectations that followed him into the league.
The numbers are rough, too. Hyatt is one of 102 receivers to run at least 663 routes since entering the NFL, and his 0.71 yards per route run ranks last in that group, behind only the Atlanta Falcons’ Jahan Dotson at 0.73.
At this point, it’s fair to wonder how long the Giants can keep waiting for a different version of Hyatt to show up. Even in a week when Berrios is sidelined and Beckham is gone, Hyatt still hasn’t been able to force his way into the conversation.
In Other News...
Giants Just Got A Tougher NFC East Problem To Prepare For
A rough afternoon in London left Washington with more than just a loss to the Colts. Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow in Week 5, and the injury immediately changed the conversation around the Commanders offense after Marcus Mariota had already gone down and third-stringer Athan Kaliakmanis was forced into action.
Dan Quinn said Daniels is on track to potentially return as soon as next week against the Giants, a development that would give Washington a much different look than it had overseas. For New York, it means preparing for a division opponent that may not be scrambling at quarterback for long, even if the recovery timeline still has to play out. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Week 5 Injury Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The injury picture around Washington has shifted quickly enough to become a real Week 5 storyline, and it reaches across both sides of the ball. The Commanders are trying to manage hamstring strains for Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin, while Charles Omenihu is working through groin and ankle issues and Marcus Mariota is dealing with a sprained MCL. Jayden Daniels is still expected to start despite his own dislocated elbow, which gives the quarterback room at least some clarity even as the rest of the roster gets more complicated.
Nick Cross adds another layer after his illness and hospitalization, and the list of limited or sidelined players keeps the pressure on Washingtons depth. For a team already balancing injuries at receiver, along the defensive front and behind center, the concern is less about any one name than the cumulative effect on how the Commanders can actually function this week. The next update on availability may say plenty about how much margin this group still has left. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Face A QB Decision They Can't Ignore
Washingtons quarterback room got another look this week after the team brought in Jack Plummer for a workout following Marcus Mariotas injury. For now, though, the Commanders are not planning to add him, a sign they believe Mariotas absence will be short enough to avoid an injured reserve move. With Jayden Daniels also expected back soon from an elbow injury, the position remains in a holding pattern while the staff waits to see how the health of the room settles.
Dan Quinn has stayed upbeat through a stretch that has featured multiple injuries around the roster, and this latest quarterback wrinkle fits the same uneasy theme. The Commanders do not appear ready to make a roster move at the position yet, but they are clearly keeping options open as they navigate a week-to-week situation that could shift quickly depending on Mariota and Daniels. [Read more 🡒]