Tag: Darius Slayton

Giants injury report: Kayvon Thibodeaux designated to return from IR

The New York Giants have designated edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) to return from injured reserve (IR).

The New York Giants returned to the practice field on Wednesday afternoon in preparation for a Week 12 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Before heading out into the unseasonably warm temperatures, head coach Brian Daboll took the podium to speak with reporters.

The good news is that linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux has been designated to return from injured reserve (IR) and had his 21-day practice window open. But Daboll expects him to return long before that, even indicating that he could play this Sunday.

“We’ll open up Kayvon’s window, so he’ll start, optimistic that he’ll be ready to go,” Daboll said.

All other players were expected to practice on at least a limited basis.

The Giants’ full Wednesday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: None

Limited participant: LB Matthew Adams (knee), WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles), TE Theo Johnson (back), NT Dexter Lawrence (knee), LB Darius Muasau (hamstring), S Tyler Nubin (back), LB Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist), OL Greg Van Roten (abdomen)

Full participant: WR Darius Slayton (concussion)

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Giants’ Darius Slayton clarifies viral ‘free man’ comment

New York Giants WR Darius Slayton caused a stir after commenting “a free man” on Nick McCloud’s Instagram page but it wasn’t as it appears.

Does anyone want to play for the New York Giants these days?

I’m sure there are a few, but based on just about every player who leaves — either by their own volition or the team’s — seems to believe they’re better off.

The Giants recently released cornerback Nick McCloud in a curious move that turned out to be cap-related. He was scooped up by the San Francisco 49ers this week and placed on their practice squad.

McCloud was a key contributor on defense and special teams but injuries have forced the Giants to shuffle their roster and McCloud, who was brought back this past offseason on a one-year, $2.985 million restricted free agent tender, became expendable as Big Blue was bumping up against the salary cap.

Like most players who have left the Giants, they feel as if they’ve been liberated. Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton commented on McCloud’s social media page, appearing to call him a “free man.”

There has been quite a bit of chatter this year regarding how general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll have handled personnel moves.

That has not gone unnoticed in the locker room. The losing hasn’t helped. The trade deadline came and went without the team making any moves, but it wasn’t from a lack of trying.

Still, Slayton’s comment wasn’t what it appears. While McCloud and others are, indeed, finding more success away from East Rutherford, it turns out the veteran receiver wasn’t offering a commentary on the state of the Giants.

And this is why onlookers shouldn’t be so quick to read into every comment.

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NFL analyst: Giants’ Darius Slayton playing his way into a big contract

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton is believed to be playing his way into a big contract worth up to $17 million per season.

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton was a hot topic at the NFL trade deadline but general manager Joe Schoen opted to keep him in East Rutherford.

That has been a theme for Slayton over the past several years, often finding himself as the center of trade attention and contract speculation.

This past offseason, Slayton briefly held out while seeking a long-term offer before finally settling on a modified one-year deal with added incentives. He bet on himself, much like running back Saquon Barkley did a year prior, and now it appears to be paying off.

Slayton has 32 receptions for 469 yards and one touchdown in nine games played. His 469 receiving yards are second on the team and his 14.7 yards per reception tops all Giants pass-catchers.

At his current pace, Slayton will finish the season with roughly 834 receiving yards, which is slightly higher than his career average. It’s also a testament to his remarkable consistency.

Marcus Mosher of The 33rd Team believes Slayton is finally playing his way into a big contract; one that many believe is well-deserved.

The 2025 wide receiver class is loaded with big-name players, and it’s one of the deeper classes we’ve seen in recent years.

However, injuries are already a factor. Stefon Diggs (torn ACL) and Chris Godwin (dislocated ankle) suffered season-ending injuries in 2024. Tee Higgins is the top receiver on the market, but he’s missed a good chunk of this season with several lower-body injuries.

Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins, and Keenan Allen are other former No. 1 receivers expected to hit the market. Still, they are all getting older, and most teams don’t like to pay receivers who are already 31 or older. That’s why someone like Darius Slayton could be one of the biggest surprises at the wide receiver position in free agency.

We saw Darnell Mooney earn a nice contract ($13M/year) from the Falcons despite totaling just 414 yards during the 2023 season. Slayton has already surpassed those numbers in 2024, but he brings a similar dynamic as a big-play merchant who can win down the field.

Slayton turns 28 in January, so he’s not the youngest receiver on the market. However, you can expect that teams will be chasing Slayton’s upside with the hope of pairing him with a true No. 1 receiver on a good offense. With Jerry Jeudy earning a $17.5 million contract last offseason, look for Slayton’s numbers to be similar.

Mosher puts Slayton’s projected AAV at $17 million per season, which will likely eliminate him from the Giants’ plans despite their overwhelming respect for him. And with quarterback Daniel Jones also likely to exit East Rutherford, Slayton will be more inclined to seek a deal elsewhere.

If anyone deserves the big payday, it’s Slayton.

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Giants’ Darius Slayton, Bryce Ford-Wheaton out vs. Panthers

New York Giants wide receivers Darius Slayton and Bryce Ford-Wheaton are out against the Carolina Panthers, and four others are questionable.

The New York Giants wrapped up their week of practice on Friday morning in Germany and their final injury report is a bit of a mixed bag.

Wide receiver Darius Slayton, who remains in concussion protocol, did not make the flight with his teammates and was officially ruled out on Thursday evening.

The good news is that offensive lineman Chris Hubbard, kicker Graham Gano, and punter Jamie Gillan all made the trip.

“We’ll go ahead and go through practice like we normally do and then we’ll decide what we’re going to do. But, I think for both the kickers and for Chris, that’s looking positive. So, we’ll see,” Daboll told reporters.

Meanwhile, wide receiver and special teams ace, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, also failed to make the trip and will be out on Sunday.

Daboll also expressed doubt about the availability ot safety Jason Pinnock.

“Pinnock is a concern for the game. I wouldn’t rule him out, but he’s probably the one,” he said.

Full injury reports for both the Giants and Panthers can be found below:

Luke Hales/Getty Images

New York Giants

Out: WR Darius Slayton (concussion), WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles)

Doubtful: None

Questionable: LB Matthew Adams (calf), K Graham Gano (hamstring), S Jason Pinnock (abdomen), LB Darius Muasau (hamstring)

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Carolina Panthers

Out: N/A

Doubtful: N/A

Questionable: N/A

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With Darius Slayton out, will Jalin Hyatt step up for Giants?

With New York Giants WR Darius Slayton out on Sunday, has the time finally arrived for a breakout game from Jalin Hyatt?

Throughout training camp, the hopes were high that New York Giants second-year wide receiver Jalin Hyatt would have a breakout season. He was on the other end of many a deep pass in drills and appeared ready to step into a prominent role on the offense.

Each week, the coaching staff tells us how much progress Hyatt is making and that he is very much in their plans. After all, they did trade up in the third round of last year’s NFL draft to get him.

But here we are in Week 10 and Hyatt, who has dressed for eight of the team’s nine games this season, has played only 27.7 percent of the offensive snaps and has just one catch for six yards on eight targets.

The Giants will not be taking veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton to Germany with them this week as he is still in the concussion protocol. That leaves the third wideout spot behind Malik Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson open.

Is this the week Hyatt gets his big break?

On Wednesday, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka fielded questions about whether Hyatt has taken a step back this season.

“I wouldn’t call it that,” said Kafka. “I think Jalin has taken advantage of all his opportunities. He’s working his tail off in practice. He’s working on the fundamentals, those things that we talked about in the offseason and through training camp. He’s taking that opportunity and that time right now to work on it. So, when his time’s called, whenever that may be, he’ll be ready. He’ll be prepared because that’s what he’s been working to do.”

But with Slayton not in the lineup, will this be the week? Or will more targets go to tight end Theo Johnson or another wide receiver, Isaiah Hodgins?

“When we talk about the game plan, we talk about putting these guys in certain spots,” Kafka explained. “Whether it’s Jalin or Malik (Nabers) or the backs, the tight ends. We think about all those things. Depending on how the game goes, how the flow of the game goes, how that determines, what kind of defenses they’re playing, may give us those opportunities or take them away and we have to adjust.”

The Giants are clearly not including Hyatt in the mainstream of the offense for a reason. Kafka was probed further on why.

“I think just opportunities,” he said. “I don’t think he’s had enough opportunities to do it. Any week could present those, whether more or less. When they show up, I’m confident that Jalin will be able to make those plays.”

We shall see if a player they used two draft picks on finally gets to contribute.

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Giants injury report: Darius Slayton out vs. Panthers

New York Giants wide receivers Darius Slayton and Bryce Ford-Wheaton are unlikely to play in Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers.

Editor’s note: Darius Slayton did not travel with the team to Germany and is officially out in Week 10.

The New York Giants took the field on Thursday for their second of three practices ahead of a Week 10 game against the Carolina Panthers in Munich, Germany.

Beforehand, head coach Brian Daboll delivered the unfortunate news that wide receivers Darius Slayton and Bryce Ford-Wheaton are unlikely to travel and will subsequently miss Sunday’s game against Carolina.

On the flip side of that coin, both kicker Graham Gano and punter Jamie Gillan continue to progress and are likely to suit up in Week 10. Gillan is all but guaranteed to play and Daboll says Gano has a strong chance.

The coach also revealed that offensive lineman Greg Van Roten should be “OK” to play on Sunday.

The Giants’ full Thursday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: WR Darius Slayton (concussion), WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles), OL Chris Hubbard (illness)

Limited participant: K Graham Gano (hamstring), P Jamie Gillan (hamstring), TE Theo Johnson (knee/back), LB Ty Summers (ankle), NT Dexter Lawrence (NIR), OL Greg Van Roten (shoulder), LB Matthew Adams (calf), S Jason Pinnock (abdomen), LB Darius Muasau (hamstring)

Full participant: None

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Giants injury report: Graham Gano designated to return from IR

The New York Giants have designated kicker Graham Gano to return from IR, while WR Darius Slayton’s Week 10 availability looks grim.

The New York Giants returned to the practice field on Wednesday afternoon in preparation for a Week 10 game against the Carolina Panthers at Allianz
Arena in Munich, Germany.

Before heading out into the Spring-like weather, head coach Brian Daboll informed reporters that kicker Graham Gano had his practice window opened and suggested there’s a chance he would play on Sunday.

The news wasn’t nearly as positive for wide receiver Darius Slayton, who remains in concussion protocol and is behind where running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. was a week ago. Daboll said Slayton may not travel to Germany with the team.

“Not there yet. He could possibly not travel. We’ll see where he’s at,” Daboll told reporters. “That hasn’t been decided yet, but if he’s not progressing where he needs to progress, there’s a chance we could not travel him.”

Daboll also revealed that wide receiver and special teams ace, Bryce Ford-Wheaton, remains out with an Achilles injury.

Finally, punter Matt Haack, who had his contract terminated on Tuesday, has been signed to the practice squad. Cornerback Art Green has been signed from the reserve unit to the 53-man roster.

The Giants’ full Wednesday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: WR Darius Slayton (concussion), WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Achilles), OL Greg Van Roten (shoulder), NT Dexter Lawrence (NIR)

Limited participant: K Graham Gano (hamstring), P Jamie Gillan (hamstring), TE Theo Johnson (knee/back), LB Ty Summers (ankle)

Full participant: None

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Report: Cardinals have called Giants about Azeez Ojulari

The Arizona Cardinals have reportedly inquired with the New York Giants about edge rusher Azeez Ojulari.

The New York Giants aren’t expected to be buyers come Tuesday’s NFL trading deadline but they might be sellers if the price is right.

Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network intimated recently that Giants general manager would have to get “blown away” by an offer to part with two of his top impending free agents, outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari and wide receiver Darius Slayton.

Many teams in need of a wide receiver have likely already made their moves in recent weeks. Buffalo acquired Amari Cooper from Cleveland, Kansas City traded for Tennessee’s DeAndre Hopkins and the Jets finally pried Davante Adams from Las Vegas.

This week, The Ravens landed Carolina’s Diontae Johnson.

Slayton has basically run out of teams in need of his services. The Giants have been showcasing him. He played every snap in last week’s loss to the Steelers on Monday night.

Ojulari, a former 2021 second-rounder who has been oft-injured the past two seasons, has 6.0 sacks to his credit this year as he reasserts himself as a top pass rusher.

That has not gone unnoticed by the Giants or the rest of the NFL.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini is reporting that there are several teams seeking an edge rusher, and with Ojulari in the final year of his rookie deal, is an attractive mid-season option.

It’s known around the league that the New York Giants, sitting in last place in the NFC East, are shopping young edge rusher Azeez Ojulari. Teams that are keeping an eye on the 24-year-old include the Falcons, Cardinals and Bengals. The Giants are already paying Brian Burns and spent a top-five pick on Kayvon Thibodeaux, so with Ojulari set to hit free agency after the season, GM Joe Schoen is trying to get something in return for him now.

Russini adds that the Arizona Cardinals have reached out to the Giants about Ojulari.

The Giants (Ojulari) and Titans (Arden Key) have taken calls from the Cardinals.

One team not listed is the Detroit Lions. They recently lost defensive end Aiden Hutchinson for the season but may be looking for more of a hand-in-the-dirt type player.

Insider names three more WR targets Steelers show interest in

Insider Tony Pauline has reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers have three WR targets in mind as the trade deadline draws near.

Much to the chagrin of some Steelers fans, the trade rumors keep on coming. Insider Tony Pauline originally reported that the Denver Broncos had a ’50-50’ chance of trading Russell Wilson’s former WR1, Courtland Sutton. However, according to his sources, there appear to be not one but two more wide receivers linked to the team’s trade plans, bringing their total number of WR trade targets up to three.

Pauline states that these receivers are the New York Jets’ Mike Williams, the New York Giants’ Darius Slayton, and the recently reported Broncos’ Courtland Sutton.

The draft capital Pittsburgh would be willing to part with in any of these potential trades remains to be seen. The November 5th trade deadline is less than one week away, and Steelers fans, while polarized by the recent bombardment of trade rumors and speculation, could finally see their team pull off a blockbuster trade to land a WR2 for the team.

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Former Tiger Darius Slayton on pace for career-high yards in 2024

Slayton’s 420 yards through the air have him on pace to finish just short of 900 yards this season.

Former Auburn wide receiver [autotag]Darius Slayton[/autotag] has turned himself into a reliable NFL pass-catching option since being drafted by the New York Giants in 2019. Although Slayton has consistently stayed on the field and provided downfield fireworks for quarterback Daniel Jones, the 27-year-old has yet to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark at any point throughout his career.

That could change this season, as Monday night’s four-catch, 108-yard outing pushed Slayton up to No. 22 among receiving yards leaders in the NFL. His 420 yards through the air after eight contests have Slayton on pace to finish just short of 900 yards this season, which would out-due his career-high mark of 770 handedly.

The former fourth-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft still has plenty of work to do if he hopes to capture his first 1,000-yard season of his career, but Slayton has shown a level of per-game consistency that could get him to the century mark. The Auburn alumni has secured at least 3 receptions in all but 2 of his 8 games this season. He has racked up at least 50 yards in 4 of his last 5 games, something the 27-year-old had never done in his career prior.

Whereas Slayton was somewhat forced into the top receiver role during his early career in New York, he now has former SEC standout Malik Nabers along with young players such as Wan’Dale Robinson and Tyrone Tracy to help share the load on the offensive end. If Slayton can continue to take advantage of softer coverage and more opportunities, he would become the first former Tiger to post a 1,000-receiving-yard season since Frank Sanders in 1998.

Only two other former Tigers have reached the century mark in an NFL season, Red Phillips (1961) and Lionel James (1985). The latter was listed as a running back at the time, as he added a career-high 516 yards on the ground as well.

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