Giants' offense off to slow start without Malik Nabers and Jalin Hyatt
Brian Daboll and Russell Wilson don’t seem too worried about receiver Malik Nabers missing time on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. Credit: Ed Murray
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The Giants’ joint practice at the Jets on Tuesday was almost more notable for who didn’t practice than who showed up.
Malik Nabers was among the players not present as the receiver continues to be managed with his injuries. Nabers practiced last Wednesday but was held out the next day and last Saturday’s preseason opener at the Bills.
“He’s rehabbing and doing everything to get back,” coach Brian Daboll said without elaborating.
It’s unclear if Nabers will suit up Wednesday for the second joint practice. But his presence was missed Tuesday with the Giants offense getting off to a slow start.
With Nabers and Jalin Hyatt out, Beaux Collins and Lil'Jordan Humphrey took first team reps at receiver. But during the first team’s opening 11-on-11 series, Russell Wilson tripped over right guard Greg Van Roten, who was pushed back by several defenders. Wilson also had a pass deflected by Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood.
In their second series, Wilson completed a downfield pass to Collins but later, a pass intended for Wan'Dale Robinson was broken up by Jets defensive back Brandon Stephens.
Things didn’t get much better with the second team’s first series. Rookie offensive lineman Marcus Mbow drew a false start penalty and Montrell Washington had a drop on a well-timed pass by Jaxson Dart.
It was enough for Jameis Winston to address the offense with a fiery speech during a break in the drills.
“Jameis and I have a lot of experience, a lot of understanding of what we want to do, how we want to motivate, how we want to lead,” Wilson said. “He’s got those great motivational speeches so I think that’s just the biggest thing. We want to come out here and compete at the highest level every time you step between the white lines.”
The offense looked better during a red-zone period to close practice. In Wilson’s first series, the Giants scored on three consecutive plays with Theo Johnson and Darius Slayton bookending touchdown catches around a scoring run by Devin Singletary.
Dart ended his red-zone work with a touchdown to Zach Pascal, who bobbled the pass but managed to recover before falling out of bounds.
It was a positive finish but it reminded how much this offense struggles without Nabers, who’s dealing with a lingering toe injury. There’s a lower ceiling on the Giants’ offense when he’s off the field and they need him to create better opportunities for others as well as himself.
Saturday’s preseason win was revealing for how the starting offense flowed without Nabers. Wilson only targeted one receiver on his seven pass attempts with Nabers and Slayton out. He also didn’t attempt many downfield passes.
On Tuesday, Wilson said he wasn’t worried about Nabers missing time. The two had throwing sessions this offseason along with several teammates and Wilson has made Nabers a favored target since the start of training camp.
“I trust his work ethic, his ability to get open,” Wilson said. “Obviously, I’ve spent a lot of time with him throwing the football when he is out there. When he has been (out there), we’ve been lights out on everything that we’ve done.”
The Giants hope so since the Wilson-Nabers connection has been on ice for a week now. The sooner it can heat up the field, the better for a Giants offense that goes as far as that duo can take it.
Just don’t tell Wilson that since he was pleased with who made plays late Tuesday instead of worrying about his No. 1 playmaker.
“Sometimes you play games where not everything goes your way that possession and just be able to reload and go to the next possession,” Wilson said. “So that’s good experience too. You need that sometimes. I thought we really answered at the end.”
Notes & quotes: Daboll had no update on left tackle Andrew Thomas, who remains on the PUP list and has only been seen working with trainers to the side at practices. “Just focused on each day like normal. He's getting better every day,” Daboll said . . Receivers Hyatt and Da’Quan Felton, guard Evan Neal, running back Cam Skattebo and cornerbacks Dru Phillips and Tre Hawkins III were not at practice. Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and rookie cornerback Korie Black worked to the side with the training staff and didn’t participate in team drills.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
