Giants leaning much heavier on tight ends without Malik Nabers

Can the Giants play with three tight ends on every play? 

How about four? 

In their first game without Malik Nabers (torn ACL), the Giants revamped their offense to give more snaps to backup tight end Daniel Bellinger (38) than either of receivers Jalin Hyatt (34) and Beaux Collins (28).

About half of their 73 offensive snaps in a loss to the Saints were with both Bellinger and fellow tight end Theo Johnson on the field. 

“I thought the distribution — whether you want to call them tight ends or receivers, doesn’t really matter to me — was pretty even across the board,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “Those young guys are going to have to do a good job of making sure that they’re on top of their things, which I know they work hard to do. Based on personnel groups and what we want to use, it could be more, could be less, but they all have got to be ready to go.” 

Considering Hyatt and Collins were both targets that didn’t make great plays to prevent Jaxson Dart interceptions, it’s possible the Giants could remain in more heavy formations. 

Receiver Darius Slayton’s hamstring injury could further force their hand Thursday against the Eagles.

Unless returner Gunner Olszewski is given a shot or Lil’Jordan Humphrey is elevated from the practice squad. 

“I have a lot of confidence in our receiving group,” offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said. “We had some opportunities. Just didn’t capitalize on them.” 

The Giants had some success in 2022 adding players off of other teams and getting quick results.

One of those was Isaiah Hodgins, who is on the Steelers practice squad and could be lured away for a spot on the 53-man roster. 

“One of the things our coaching staff does that’s a strength of ours is getting guys prepared and getting guys ready to go for the game,” Kafka said. “Whether you’re on the roster or whether you’re on the practice squad, those guys are dialed into it. They’re in the installations, they’re in the meetings, they’re in the walk-throughs, and just trying to stay ahead of schedule.” 

The Giants and Eagles were required to reveal injury reports Monday despite neither team practicing ahead of Thursday’s practice. 

Most notably, RB Saquon Barkley (knee) would not have practiced for the Eagles as he prepares to face his former team. 

For the Giants, Slayton, RT Jermaine Eluemunor (back), LB Swayze Bozeman (ankle) and LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (hamstring) would have sat out.

Dart (hamstring), S Dane Belton (shoulder), S Jevón Holland (calf), S Tyler Nubin (groin), CB Dru Phillips (hip) and RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (shoulder) would have been limited. 

CB Deonte Banks is new to returning kickoffs and looks comfortable with the ball in his hands (four for 129 yards) over the past two games.

But he stopped short of a block Sunday on one of Olszewski’s returns, which raised a question of whether he did not know what to do because of unfamiliarity or did not give a great effort (a past problem for Banks). 

“I don’t think it was a lack of effort by any means,” special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial said. “Part of the development of the returner position is also the development of the off-returner position. Sometimes that process of him learning the certain tracks to run when they’re going to block [and] the urgency it takes to get there, that’s all a feel thing. 

“The fact of the matter is when those reps are on tape, you have the ability to show them, ‘OK, so this is where we got put in a compromised position, this is how we get better.’ Knowing Tae, he’s going to fix it right away.”