Jalin Hyatt’s summer trade wish surfaces after barely playing in Giants first two games

As second-year receiver Jalin Hyatt continues to wait for his chance with the Giants, evidence of frustration over his role in the team’s offense dates back to the summer — even before he was held without a reception with only one target in the team’s first two games of the season.

A source confirmed an ESPN report that Hyatt essentially said during a practice in August the Giants should trade him if they didn’t plan to use him this season.

Asked about that incident before Friday’s practice, Giants coach Brian Daboll replied, “He never told me that, so … Jalin is probably one of the closer guys I am with on this team. You should ask Jalin that.”

The Giants traded a fourth-round pick to move into the third round to draft Hyatt out of Tennessee with the 73rd overall pick in the 2023 draft.

He finished his rookie season with 23 catches for 373 yards (16.2 per catch), showing glimpses of an ability to stretch defenses and get downfield, including five receptions for 109 yards in a 10-7 win over the Patriots on Nov. 26.

But the team drafted Malik Nabers with the sixth overall pick in the draft, and the 22-year-old Hyatt also has been stuck behind holdovers Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson during the Giants’ 0-2 start entering Sunday’s road game against the Browns.

“[Hyatt] has his role, and personnel — Nabers, Slayton and Wan’Dale — we’ve covered this, they’re the starters,” Daboll said. “He has a role. When his number’s called, he’ll be ready to go. He’s in good spirits.

“Jalin and I and the receivers talk every day. We meet a lot. I have a lot of confidence in Jalin. Jalin knows that. So when he has a chance to make a play, go out there and make a play.”

Asked if Hyatt’s explosiveness could be a boost to Daniel Jones and the offense, Daboll added, “I’d say I think we have four explosive guys. I think Wan’Dale is explosive, Nabers is explosive, Slayton’s explosive, Hyatt’s explosive.

“Again, they all have roles. Those guys play a little more than Jalin, but when Jalin has his opportunity, we certainly have a lot of confidence in him.”

— Additional reporting by Ryan Dunleavy