EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Malik Nabers is out, and Devin Singletary is doubtful, leaving the Giants most likely without their leading receiver and rusher for their game Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks in Lumen Field.
Giants coach Brian Daboll announced today that Nabers, the NFL's receptions leader, will not travel with the team tomorrow and will miss the game against the 3-1 Seahawks.
Nabers remains in the NFL concussion protocol after he was injured in the Giants' loss to the Dallas Cowboys eight days ago. Singletary, who hurt his groin in the same game, was on the practice field but received a doubtful designation when the injury report was released afterward.
"We're always going to do what's right," Daboll said of Nabers' situation. "You take those concussions very seriously. He's made progress, but not to the point where he can go out there and play. But his safety, his well-being is first and foremost.
"We won't travel him. Keep him home. He'll be inside today. He is making progress, but we're going to do everything we can do to get him as healthy and right as we can."
To fuel the Giants' aerial attack, quarterback Daniel Jones – who has thrown just eight of his 144 passes without Nabers on the field - will look to the team's other receivers, including Wan'Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt, who is expected to see his first extensive action. Bryce Ford-Wheaton and Ihmir Smith-Marsette are also on the roster and Isaiah Hodgins is a candidate to be elevated from the practice squad.
"That's something we'll talk about later tonight," Daboll said.
Two years ago, the Giants appeared to be shorthanded at wide receiver when they faced the Green Bay Packers in London. Sterling Shepard, Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney and Robinson were all sidelined with injuries. The wideouts in uniform were Slayton, David Sills, Richie James and Marcus Johnson, who started in his second game with the team. Before the game, the four receivers got together and said, "if this is all we have, this is all we need!" They combined for 13 catches for 132 yards in the Giants' 27-22 victory.
Slayton was asked if the current situation is similar.
"That circumstance was a little different because we had the – I don't really know the proper terms, but a little bit different group than it is now," Slayton said. "Definitely the same mindset. We know the group we have now is a really good group, strong group. Obviously, we're without Malik this week, but we know that we still have other talented guys that can go out there and get the job done."
One who has had limited opportunities to do that is Hyatt, who has been targeted just three times and has yet to catch a pass.
"I think he's done a good job of staying locked in and he's a talented player," Slayton said. "I'm excited for him to get his chance. As somebody who's been in his situation before and had a chance like this, this is what it's all about. When it does come, it's time to show and I believe he will."
Nabers will certainly be missed. His 35 receptions are five more than anyone else in the NFL, nine more than Robinson, who is second on the Giants, and the second-most in a player's first four career games in the Super Bowl era. He already has the second-most receptions in a player's first five games – and he's played only four. Nabers needs 11 catches in his next game to tie the Rams' Puca Nacua's record, set last year. Since Nabers caught 12 passes last week vs. the Cowboys, it's certainly possible.
In addition, Nabers has at least five receptions in each of his first four games, which is tied for the fourth-longest streak to start a career since at least 1970. Dallas' CeeDee Lamb has the record with a six-game streak in 2020.
Singletary has rushed for a team-high 221 yards on 56 carries and has scored two touchdowns.
Without Nabers and Singletary, Robinson is expected to be the only player in uniform Sunday who has scored a Giants touchdown this season.
"That's why we have the other guys on the roster," Daboll said. "Obviously, Malik is a talented player. Motor (Singletary's nickname) has done a lot for us, but that's the NFL. Every team deals with injuries, and you prepare the other guys that are backups to them to go out there and perform at a high level. So, we have a lot of confidence in the guys that are behind them, and that's just an opportunity for them to go out there and to play at a high level."
Nabers has missed only 24 of the Giants' 268 offensive snaps this season.
"He's very competitive," Daboll said. "Obviously, he wants to be out there, but he's active in the meetings. We watch one-on-ones as a group with the quarterbacks and all the skill guys. It's a good teaching lesson, but it's good camaraderie in there. He kind of took the lead yesterday, got up on the board. We do some things on it. So, he would love to be out there, but he can't be right now."
Daboll said Nabers has been working with the team's athletic trainers, but he was not on the practice field this week.
"I'd say each day it's getting a little bit better, but just not at the point where he can take the next step in the protocol for us," Daboll said. "Again, you don't want to force anything like that. You want to make sure that all the steps are very careful in that regards to concussions. So, he's better. He's getting better. He's in the meetings, things like that. He's doing some stuff with the trainers inside, and each day it's been a little bit more."
Singletary will travel to Seattle but didn't sound confident he will be in uniform.
"We'll see," he said. "Gameday, game time, we'll see. I think it's going to be up to me, really. If I feel like where I'm comfortable enough to go, I'm going to go."
Singletary said this is his first groin injury, and he is wary of making it worse.
"That's part of it," he said. "Especially a groin. Definitely, it can be tricky. So, you want to be smart."
Singletary said he felt "pretty good" today after working on the field and was not ready to close the door on the possibility of playing.
"I'm going to see," he said. "I'm going to talk with the trainers and then go from there. But like I said, today was the most I did, and it felt good.
"No one wants to miss a game. If I feel like I'm able to be out there, that's what it's going to be."
*The Giants listed three players as questionable - cornerbacks Adoree' Jackson and Dru Phillips with calf injuries, and linebacker Matt Adams (quad), who is on injured reserve but was designated to return this week.
View photos of the Giants on the practice fields ahead of their Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
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