Struggling Giants WR wants to step up amid Malik Nabers' absence

On Friday, Giants head coach Brian Daboll told reporters that rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers won't play when New York faces the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday due to the concussion he suffered in Week 4.

Before Daboll shared that update, struggling second-year wideout Jalin Hyatt made it clear he wants to step up in Nabers' absence, even though he recorded zero catches on just three targets over the season's first four weeks. 

"It’s been tough," Hyatt said about the start of his second pro campaign during a recent chat with Ryan Novozinsky of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "Yeah, it’s been tough. You go into the season wanting to play, wanting to compete with your guys, with your brothers out there. And obviously, some things don’t go your way. That’s kind of what I’m dealing with. For me, it’s just being ready. Whenever that number is called, and I know it will be called during the season at some point, I’ll be ready." 

A 2023 third-round draft pick, Hyatt tallied just 23 receptions for 373 yards and zero touchdowns as a rookie but vowed this summer he would end his scoring drought in the opening week of the ongoing campaign. Instead, the 23-year-old known as a vertical threat became forgotten as quarterback Daniel Jones repeatedly failed to connect on 20 yards or more passes.

Rumblings suggest that the Giants could soon make out-of-contract players such as wide receiver Darius Slayton available to contenders if New York endures even a couple more losses this month. Hyatt proving he can build in-game chemistry with Jones could either prevent the Giants from becoming sellers before the Nov. 5 trade deadline or result in the former Tennessee Volunteers star replacing Slayton in the lineup. 

"I really believe that I’m not just a deep threat," Hyatt added during his comments. "I know that kind of spreads around. That’s what I’ve been focused on. I don’t just run a post, go, and whatever. I want to run the whole route tree… I just can’t wait to execute."

As of Friday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Nabers-less Giants as seven-point underdogs for Sunday's game in Seattle.