Jalin Hyatt, the second-year wide receiver for the New York Giants, has been at the center of some trade rumors after a slow start to the 2024 season.
However, Hyatt clarified that he never asked for a trade and is still dedicated to his team.
Even though things haven’t gone as planned for the Giants’ wide receivers, Hyatt is staying positive and ready for when his moment comes.
This season, the Giants’ receivers have had a tough time, though Malik Nabers has been a bright spot.
Nabers has caught 15 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown in just two games, but the other receivers have struggled.
Meanwhile, Wan’Dale Robinson has added eight catches for 62 yards and a touchdown, making him the only other wideout to score so far.
Nevertheless, Jalin Hyatt, who many expected to take a big step forward this season, has been unusually quiet.
The former third-round pick in 2023 showed promise last year with 23 catches for 373 yards, but this season, he’s been targeted just once in two games and has yet to make a catch.
Not to mention, his playing time has also dropped, going from 23% of the snaps in Week 1 to 21% in Week 2.
But things took a turn when ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reported that during practice, Hyatt supposedly said that if the Giants weren’t using him, they should trade him.
Hyatt quickly set the record straight, telling reporters, “I didn’t say that. I don’t know where that came from, but that’s false.”
He explained that he loves being with the Giants and has a lot of respect for general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, who made a trade to draft him.
Jalin Hyatt denies a report that he said if he wasn’t going to be used by the Giants, they should trade him:
“That’s false. I love being here.” pic.twitter.com/5jPIxh0Zj1
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) September 20, 2024
“I love being here. Joe and Dabs, I got so much respect for them trading up for me and getting me. So, whatever that rumor was, it’s not true at all,” he added.
Unfortunately, the Giants have struggled offensively, averaging just 170.5 passing yards per game, and they’re currently 0-2.
And Hyatt’s potential to provide a much-needed spark in the offense has yet to materialize.
Meanwhile, his teammates Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayton have maintained their spots atop the depth chart.
Slayton has seen 72% and 88% of offensive snaps over the first two weeks, while Robinson has stayed on the field for 68% and 63% of plays, respectively.
Despite the frustration of limited playing time, Hyatt remains optimistic.
He acknowledges that his role has not met his expectations so far but is determined to stay focused and improve.
“I thought I had a very, very good training camp, and they told me I did. They told me I had a great training camp, but there are things that I can’t control,” Hyatt explained.
“I am disappointed about it, but at the end of the day, I’m just going to keep getting better, and my chance will come, and when it comes, I will be ready.”
Giants head coach Brian Daboll echoed this sense of disappointment, who also denied the trade rumors, saying Hyatt never mentioned wanting to leave the team.
Daboll shared that Hyatt’s lack of playing time is not due to any issue with the receiver’s ability but rather to how plays have unfolded so far.
“Jalin is probably one of the closer guys I am with on this team,” Daboll told reporters, brushing off the trade rumors. “You should ask Jalin.”
He also hinted that Hyatt’s role could grow as the season progresses, depending on how game plans develop.
Notably, Hyatt’s limited usage has certainly raised eyebrows, especially after a training camp where he worked frequently with the first team.
He has only played 28 offensive snaps this season, a clear difference from his counterparts like Slayton and Robinson, who have seen considerably more time on the field.
Yet, Hyatt remains confident that his moment will come.
“My time will come. Trust me, it will,” Hyatt stated.
“And if it’s not now, it will be soon. So I’m not really worried about it right now because I know I’m going to take over sooner or later.”
Looking ahead, the Giants face the Cleveland Browns in an upcoming game. And this matchup could present an opportunity for Hyatt to make his mark.
With Browns cornerback Denzel Ward likely focusing on Malik Nabers, the Giants might be able to use Hyatt’s speed to stretch the field and give their passing game a much-needed boost.