Throughout training camp, the hopes were high that New York Giants second-year wide receiver Jalin Hyatt would have a breakout season. He was on the other end of many a deep pass in drills and appeared ready to step into a prominent role on the offense.
Each week, the coaching staff tells us how much progress Hyatt is making and that he is very much in their plans. After all, they did trade up in the third round of last year’s NFL draft to get him.
But here we are in Week 10 and Hyatt, who has dressed for eight of the team’s nine games this season, has played only 27.7 percent of the offensive snaps and has just one catch for six yards on eight targets.
The Giants will not be taking veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton to Germany with them this week as he is still in the concussion protocol. That leaves the third wideout spot behind Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson open.
Is this the week Hyatt gets his big break?
On Wednesday, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka fielded questions about whether Hyatt has taken a step back this season.
“I wouldn’t call it that,” said Kafka. “I think Jalin has taken advantage of all his opportunities. He’s working his tail off in practice. He’s working on the fundamentals, those things that we talked about in the offseason and through training camp. He’s taking that opportunity and that time right now to work on it. So, when his time’s called, whenever that may be, he’ll be ready. He’ll be prepared because that’s what he’s been working to do.”
But with Slayton not in the lineup, will this be the week? Or will more targets go to tight end Theo Johnson or another wide receiver, Isaiah Hodgins?
“When we talk about the game plan, we talk about putting these guys in certain spots,” Kafka explained. “Whether it’s Jalin or Malik (Nabers) or the backs, the tight ends. We think about all those things. Depending on how the game goes, how the flow of the game goes, how that determines, what kind of defenses they’re playing, may give us those opportunities or take them away and we have to adjust.”
The Giants are clearly not including Hyatt in the mainstream of the offense for a reason. Kafka was probed further on why.
“I think just opportunities,” he said. “I don’t think he’s had enough opportunities to do it. Any week could present those, whether more or less. When they show up, I’m confident that Jalin will be able to make those plays.”
We shall see if a player they used two draft picks on finally gets to contribute.
