Giants WR Sparks Concern After Sudden Exit From Minicamp Practice Due to Injury

One of the New York Giants‘ promising young wide receivers was knocked from the team’s first minicamp practice of the spring, due to an injury.

According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, wide receiver Jalin Hyatt suffered what appeared to be a left leg injury and was seen being worked on by a trainer before being shut down for the afternoon.

Team sources tell Heavy that the nature and severity of Hyatt’s injury has yet to be determined.

The Giants have high expectations for the 23-year-old, who could be positioned to climb the depth chart at receiver and quarterback Russell Wilson’s target hierarchy after catching just eight passes for 62 yards in 16 games last season.

Hyatt, six-feet and 185 pounds, could be a top candidate to fill the void as the Giants’ top complementary deep threat opposite Malik Nabers, if he can overtake veteran Darius Slayton as the Giants’ No. 2 wide receiver this summer during training camp and the preseason.

Through his first two seasons, Hyatt has caught 31 passes in 33 games for 435 yards, but is still in search of his first career touchdown.

By all accounts, Hyatt has been a standout through the Giants’ OTAs this spring, but the severity of whatever caused him to leave practice early and its impact on what has been a stellar offseason remains to be seen.

Russell Wilson Bullish on Jalin Hyatt

Mike Lawrence | GettyNew York GIants quarterback Russell Wilson is optimistic he can help Jalin Hyatt reach his ceiling in 2025.

Whenever Hyatt gets back onto the practice field, it’s obvious that he has a big fan in Giants starting quarterback Russell Wilson.

“I saw him do it in college,” Wilson told reporters, of Hyatt. “I also saw him make some big big-time plays, in the National Football League. I saw him make a sweet catch, against Arizona, where he went up and snagged it over somebody’s head. He did it at home once, he’s made a couple of great plays.”

The Giants are aiming for, and banking on Hyatt finding consistency this season, so his highlight-reel worthy catches aren’t few and far between. Meanwhile, the fact that Wilson is at his best in the vertical passing game could unlock Hyatt’s big-play potential.

“I think the biggest thing is consistency that I can bring to him every day, too,” Wilson explained, of how he can help Hyatt. “Just making sure that I’m always giving him extra opportunities down the field, but also, not just down the field but any play we’ve got, spending extra time on the field.

“He’s got a great work ethic to him, he has great grit, I think that he wants to be great. He’s got all the special pieces to it all. What makes a great receiver, is his ability to make catches in contested situations, and he does a great job of that. He has a great opportunity here this year, to really set the tone.”

Jalin Hyatt ‘Major Leap’ Coming for Giants?

Dustin Satloff | Getty Jalin Hyatt could be poised for a breakout third season for the New York Giants.

Hyatt will be looking to shake off any notion of being a first round bust, when the 2025 season kicks off, and at least one analyst is bullish on his outlook.

Wilson’s arrival, along with his propensity for stretching the field, could play right into Hyatt finally hitting his stride at the NFL level.

Over at CBS Sports, analyst Garrett Podell lists Hyatt as a player across the league who is in the perfect situation to make some big strides this fall.

“Hyatt has caught just 31 passes for 435 yards, and he has yet to score a receiving touchdown,” Podell wrote about the receiver’s first two seasons. “Things could be different for Hyatt in Year 3 though with the Giants moving on from Daniel Jones and bringing in three quarterbacks who love to throw deep: 10-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson, one-time Pro Bowl quarterback Jameis Winston and 2025 25th overall pick Jaxson Dart, who led college football in yards per pass attempt (10.8) in 2024.