Giants’ Jalin Hyatt not moping despite lack of targets
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Jalin Hyatt was on the field for 35 snaps on offense on Christmas Day against the Eagles.
Really.
It was often difficult to notice him considering two Giants quarterbacks attempted 32 passes and Hyatt was not targeted on a single one of them.
“Jalen’s doing everything we’ve asked him to do,’’ coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday. “We got to do a good job with that, too.’’
The Giants have not done a good job of getting the ball to Hyatt, which is in part a function of a shabby passing attack. Hyatt had a breakout performance — five receptions for 109 yards — in a 10-7 victory over the Patriots.
In the next three games, Hyatt has a total of two catches for 13 yards.
Hyatt had no chance for a reception with zero targets in the 33-25 loss in Philly.
“You try,’’ Daboll said. “I mean, look, there were three, four, five shots dialed up. Either they stayed high on it, they had a safety over it, but you’re always trying to improve in that area. We’re certainly trying, but we got to continue to work on that.’’
Hyatt has taken to heart the lack of production and coming to terms with having no targets in a game.
“I can’t control where the ball goes, the only thing I can focus on is myself and this team, just getting open, whatever one-on-one matchup I have or whoever is on me,’’ Hyatt said. “Just come in every day, keep preparing, keep doing the same routine I have weekly and hopefully things can change.’’
The speedy rookie is stuck on 19 receptions for 343 yards and no touchdowns.
He said he felt as if he let the team down in Philadelphia.
“I’m learning the NFL and how things operate up here,’’ Hyatt said. “You can’t pout because you never know, next week it might be five targets for me, six targets, seven targets and what if I’m not ready? If go out there not prepared because I was pouting all week and I do have those opportunities, I don’t come in with them.’’
Daboll said RT Evan Neal will have surgery on his left ankle “fairly soon.’’
The Giants held a walk-through and five players were projected as being held out of practice: CB Deonte Banks (shoulder), TE Lawrence Cager (groin), DL Dexter Lawrence (hamstring), DL A’Shawn Robinson (back) and DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches (knee).
Up next for the Giants: Dealing with Rams WR Puka Nacua, who was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in a 30-22 victory over the Saints.
Nacua, a fifth-round pick from BYU (and Washington before that) had nine catches for 164 yards and one touchdown. Nacua in his rookie year has been prolific: 96 receptions for 1,327 yards and five touchdowns.
Daboll said P Jamie Gillan (groin, knee) is “trending in the right direction.
Gillan told The Post he is fine.
Former cornerback Corey Webster will be at the team facility on Friday to officially retire as a Giant.
Webster, a 2005 second-round pick out of LSU, was a starter on the Super Bowl 42 and Super Bowl 46 championship teams.
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