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Jordan Raanan, ESPN Staff Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants will be without rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers because of a concussion when they travel to play the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, coach Brian Daboll said Friday.
They could, however, have starting running back Devin Singletary (groin) available after he returned to practice Friday for the first time this week.
Nabers is still dealing with a concussion suffered late in the loss last Sunday to the Dallas Cowboys. The No. 6 overall pick in this year’s draft leads the Giants with 35 receptions for 386 yards and three touchdowns.
“We won’t travel him [to Seattle],” Daboll said. “[We’ll] keep him home. He’ll be inside [Friday]. He is making progress, but we’re going to do everything we can do to get him as healthy and right as we can.”
Nabers’ absence opens an opportunity for last year’s third-round pick Jalin Hyatt. More will also be asked of Darius Slayton, who likely slides into Nabers’ spot, and slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who is second on the team with 38 targets.
Expectations had grown for Hyatt after the Giants traded up for him and he flashed as a rookie. But Hyatt has just three targets and zero catches in limited playing time this season.
“I’m a competitor,” said Hyatt, who was frustrated when Slayton beat him out for the No. 2 wide receiver spot this summer. “I want to be out there and be able to play, and obviously, I didn’t have a lot of chances this season.
“But like I said, it’s a long season. Things happen, injuries happen, and I got to be ready, I got to be ready whenever my number’s called. And if it is called this week, I’ll be ready.”
The Giants have relied heavily on Nabers this season. He is averaging 13 targets per game as the Giants’ top target in every game and has accounted for 44% of their receiving yards and 50% of their total touchdowns.
Daboll said Wednesday that Nabers was in the “early stages” of the concussion protocol. That made it difficult to get clearance before the end of the week even though he has made progress. Given a few more days, there was a chance he could get through the protocol.
“We’re always going to do what’s right. We take those concussions very seriously, and he’s made progress but not to the point where he can go out there and play,” Daboll said. “But his safety, his well-being is first and foremost.”
The Giants host the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 13 at MetLife Stadium. The hope is that Nabers will be back for that game.
His absence will make life more difficult for quarterback Daniel Jones, who has developed an instant chemistry with the rookie wide receiver.
“There’s no doubt he’s been a big part of our offense so far and someone who we’ve counted on in a lot of spots. So it’ll change a little bit,” Jones said. “But the guys we got out there, we have a lot of confidence in them winning their matchups and getting open. I know we’ll play well. So we’re confident in whoever’s out there, and we’re lucky to have a deep group of receivers and a lot of talented guys.”
