The Giants’ healthy scratch list for their Week 8 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was a stunning indictment of GM Joe Schoen.
The names included offensive lineman Evan Neal, Schoen’s No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft; wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, a 2023 third-round pick Schoen traded up to select; and offensive tackle James Hudson, Schoen’s priority offensive line free agent signing this past spring.
It is uncommon to pour that many assets into three players who don’t play when they’re healthy.
And don’t forget Russell Wilson ($11 million), the fifth-highest cap hit on this year’s team, riding the bench when current emergency third QB Jameis Winston ($3 million) would have been perfectly capable of doing so — and has — for a lot less money.
Neal ($7.8 million) carries the 11th highest cap hit on the roster. Hudson ($3.9 million), who got $6 million guaranteed on a two-year contract to sit on the bench, is the 18th highest hit this season. And his number goes up to $7.8 million next year, per overthecap.com.
His inability to handle the spotlight in that penalty-filled Week 2 disaster in Dallas not only showed Brian Daboll the coach couldn’t trust Hudson in the line. It also means if right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (pec) is sidelined, fifth-round rookie Marcus Mbow has to be the next man up.
Hyatt ($1.5 million) is only the 30th highest cap hit on this year’s team, but the cost goes beyond money. Schoen gave up a fourth-round pick in 2023 to move up and take him, and Hyatt is taking up a roster spot even though the coaching staff has shown it does trust him.
Hyatt’s last chance was a deep target from Jaxson Dart during the fourth quarter collapse against Denver that fell incomplete over the receiver’s head.
Daboll was asked on Thursday if he thought Hyatt should have gotten under the ball, and the coach acted like he couldn’t totally recall the play, before giving an answer to a different question.
“Hyatt’s doing everything he can possibly do to try to be out there and be productive,” Daboll said.
Practice squad addition Ray-Ray McCloud probably is going to get the next crack Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers at filling the spot that Hyatt vacated with his healthy scratch last Sunday in Philadelphia.
That’s what a team resorts to when its investments consistently fall flat: spin the wheel, cross their fingers and hope it doesn’t result in a third straight loss and a 2-7 record after nine weeks.
DART NAMED ROOKIE OF THE MONTH
Dart was named the NFL’s offensive rookie of the month for October.
Dart led all rookies with 1,014 total yards, 10 total touchdowns and had a 90.0 passer rating. He was the only rookie and one of four quarterbacks — along with Jalen Hurts, Daniel Jones and Patrick Mahomes — to record at least two touchdowns in four games this month.
He is the second rookie quarterback in NFL history to record at least one passing and one rushing touchdown in three straight games. Tim Tebow was the other.
Dart is the first Giant to win offensive rookie of the month since Odell Beckham Jr. in Dec. 2014. He is the first-ever Giants quarterback to earn the honor.
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Teddye Buchanan was named defensive rookie of the month.
