New York Giants rookie Jalin Hyatt embraces ‘next play mentality’

New York Giants rookie wide receiver Jalin Hyatt has made explosive play after explosive play during training camp but was silent in his preseason debut against the Detroit Lions.

Hyatt hauled in just one reception for negative-four yards and didn’t see another target thrown in his direction.

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Then, on Friday night against the Carolina Panthers, Hyatt dropped a pass that hit him right in the hands. But rather than sulk about it, the rookie popped back up and went right back to work.

Shortly thereafter, Hyatt did what he does best — used his blazing speed to coast past a Panthers defender en route to a 33-yard touchdown, the first of his career.

“It’s always good to get the first one,” Hyatt told Giants.com after the game. “Those are the ones that are the hardest ones. When you’re open and it’s just you and the ball, sometimes you (lose) focus. It’s always good to look it in, focusing, and making a play when you need to make a play.”

Hyatt was frustrated with his drop but didn’t allow it to impact how he played for the remainder of the game. It’s a lesson instilled upon him by head coach Brian Daboll and wide receivers coach Mike Groh.

“As a receiver, when the ball touches our hands, we want to catch everything. I believe I can catch any ball that comes to me,” Hyatt said. “When you have a play like that — and I didn’t come up with it — it’s always next play mentality.

“That’s what (Brian Daboll) and (Mike) Groh have been teaching me. . . I am just glad that Coach Dabes trusted me and called that next play. Lot of respect for him.”

And how did Hyatt get so open? Speed, of course. But a few other things as well.

“It’s speed, it’s acceleration, it’s getting open, it’s knowing what you have to do and being comfortable with the quarterback,” Hyatt said.

The good news for the Giants is that Hyatt is becoming more comfortable every day and clearly doesn’t allow the negatives, which he will experience as a rookie, to get him down.