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Is the end near for a Giants draft bust?
Though the once-benched Deonte Banks has clawed his way back into the starting lineup in an injury-ravaged secondary, receiver Jalin Hyatt and guard Evan Neal both were healthy scratches last week against the Eagles.
It is likely the Giants won’t need a healthy scratch Sunday against the 49ers.
But the NFL trade deadline is looming Tuesday, and it might be the moment to call time of death on salvaging the careers of the 2023 third-round pick (Hyatt) and 2022 first-round pick (Neal) in New York if another team offers a late-round pick swap.
Actually, the Giants might have to make a decision sooner than Tuesday. If cornerback Rico Payton is going to be activated from injured reserve Saturday, a spot on the 53-man roster needs to be cleared either via a release, a trade or moving a player to injured reserve for at least four games.
Hyatt has 11 catches for 79 yards in 21 games over the past two seasons. The Giants used practice-squader Lil’Jordan Humphrey over Hyatt in the past three games and could elevate Ray-Ray McCloud as a starter this week.
Why hasn’t it clicked after Hyatt’s promising rookie season?
“There’s just a number of factors that would be involved,” receivers coach Mike Groh said while declining to specify any. “But there’s still time for him. The player I’ve seen, the person I’ve been around, he handled [a healthy scratch] like a pro.”
Neal, who switched from right tackle to right guard in the offseason, has been a healthy scratch in all eight games so far. He took first-team reps in training camp but fell to third string.
“We asked Evan to make the transition. I think he’s embraced it,” offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo said. “I would see him more as a guard. If I asked him to go play right tackle, he’d go play right tackle.”
Hyatt would be owed about $2.1 million through next season by an acquiring team. Perhaps the Giants will learn from their mistake of hanging onto Neal too long, where his trade value is hurt because he is a half-season rental at about $550,000.
The Giants ruled out CB Paulson Adebo (knee), CB Cor’Dale Flott (concussion), CB Art Green (hamstring) and DL Chauncey Golston (neck). TE Daniel Bellinger (neck) and OT Jermaine Eluemunor (pec) are doubtful.
Add in third-string QB Jameis Winston and that could be the inactive list Sunday.
Eluemunor’s goal has been to start all 17 games this season. If he can’t go, rookie RT Marcus Mbow is next up.
S Jevon Holland (knee) and Payton (groin) are questionable.
The secondary is in rough shape.
CB Korie Black, who was on the Jets practice squad Oct. 20, could start.
“Work with a bunch of the guys that we have,” head coach Brian Daboll said, “and they all have to be ready to go.”
RBs coach Ladell Betts has no doubt how Cam Skattebo will handle his rehab from a dislocated ankle and fractured tibia.
“Lazy is definitely not a word I would use for Skatt,” Betts said. “Every situation is different. I’ll leave that up to the medical folks, but he’ll be fine.”
