Giants icon rips 'bust' Jalin Hyatt after costly interception in loss to Packers

With under 45 seconds to play in Sunday's game between the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers, Giants quarterback Jameis Winston had a pass intercepted in the end zone when the hosts had an opportunity to possibly send the contest to overtime. 

However, replays showed that Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt seemed to curiously stop his route short. During the Giants' postgame show that aired on New York sports radio station WFAN, team icon and NFL analyst Tiki Barber ripped Hyatt for not doing enough in that moment. 

Tiki Barber has seen enough of Jalin Hyatt with Giants

"Jalin Hyatt doesn't play football like a wide receiver who wants to get the football," Barber explained. "And it's his lack of urgency which is going to ultimately ruin his career. I mean, he's already a bust for the New York Giants. But you can't not run that route."

A 2023 third-round pick, Hyatt is on track to go down as one of the worst draft decisions made by Giants general manager Joe Schoen. Over his first two pro campaigns, Hyatt tallied just 31 receptions for 435 yards with no touchdowns across 33 total games. For the ongoing season, he has just five catches for 35 yards. 

During the Fox broadcast of Sunday's game, future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees suggested that Hyatt failed Winston before the pass was thrown. Barber agreed with Brees' assessment. 

"The reason that looks so bad is because Jalin Hyatt wasn't where he was supposed to be," Barber added about the interception. "Jameis Winston thought [Hyatt] would be there. And look, if [the pass is] defended, it's defended. But you can't quit on a play. The ball is going to come there. You cannot stop running your route because you think the ball is not coming to you, and that's what happened." 

What Jameis Winston said about back-breaking interception 

"Timing and execution are so important in this game," Winston said about the pick, per Robert Sanchez of SNY. "And when you don't have the reps with some of your teammates, you've got to capitalize on those moments and continue to work even harder and find solutions because, when the game really matters, timing and execution is the most important thing."

Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart missed Sunday's game due to a concussion, and it was unclear as of Monday morning if he'll be good to go for New York's matchup at the Detroit Lions (6-4) on Nov. 23. At that same time, it was unknown if Hyatt would get any additional opportunities to salvage whatever may be left of his Giants career.