Giants Elevate Jalin Hyatt and Raheem Layne for Sunday at Houston

6 days ago

3 min read

Updated: 11 minutes ago

Published Oct 25, 2026, 8:05 AM ET | By Vincent Rapisardi

Key points

The Giants elevated WR Jalin Hyatt and S Raheem Layne from the practice squad Saturday for Sunday's game at Houston.
Hyatt, a 2023 third-round pick, is set to play in his first game of the season.
Hyatt has 36 catches for 470 yards and no touchdowns in 41 career games.

The Giants elevated Jalin Hyatt from the practice squad on Saturday, putting the former third-round pick in line for his first game of the season. Safety Raheem Layne was also elevated, adding depth to a secondary that will be without Jevon Holland in Houston.

Hyatt "will be playing in his first game of the season," as shared by Big Blue Film Room on X. The Giants (3-2-1) lead the NFC East and face the Texans (2-4) before both teams go on their bye.

The elevations came with two other moves, according to Giants.com: cornerback Paulson Adebo was activated from injured reserve and Tremaine Edmunds went on injured reserve. We covered that news in Tremaine Edmunds Out for Season: Who Replaces Him for the Giants.

Why the Giants Turned to Jalin Hyatt for Houston

Hyatt has spent the entire 2026 season on the practice squad. The Giants signed him there as a veteran player on Aug. 31, according to the team's transaction log.

The team did not give a reason. Tight end Theo Johnson (neck) was ruled out Saturday and did not travel to Houston.

A standard elevation is temporary. A player can be elevated three times per season, per NFL.com, and reverts to the practice squad after the game.

The Giants added receiver Jason Brownlee to the practice squad Oct. 20, as detailed in Giants Sign WR Jason Brownlee to Practice Squad After Workout.

By the Numbers: Jalin Hyatt's Career With the Giants

Season (games)	Catches / Yards	TD
2023 (17)	23 / 373	0
2024 (16)	8 / 62	0
2025 (8)	5 / 35	0
Career (41)	36 / 470	0

Source: Giants.com's Jalin Hyatt career stats.

Hyatt's rookie year was his best. His 16.2 yards per catch in 2023 led the team, and his first career catch was a 58-yard gain at Arizona.

His production fell in each season after that. The 2022 Biletnikoff Award winner at Tennessee has yet to score an NFL touchdown.

Raheem Layne Gives the Giants Another Safety

Holland was downgraded to out Saturday with a concussion. Tyler Nubin (neck) is questionable after three limited practices, per the Giants' injury report.

Ar'Darius Washington is expected to start at free safety in Holland's place, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported. Layne adds insurance if Nubin cannot go.

Layne, an undrafted free agent from Indiana, has played 16 career games with the Chargers and Giants and made 19 tackles, according to Giants.com. He made his only career start for the Chargers in 2023 and joined the Giants in August 2024.

What Comes Next for Jalin Hyatt and the Giants

Both players return to the practice squad after Sunday unless signed to the 53-man roster. Because this is his first game of the season, Hyatt can be elevated two more times before the team would have to sign him.

The Giants have not said how much Hyatt will play. He has not scored a touchdown in 41 career games, and the bye week follows Houston.

Our Take: Jalin Hyatt Is Running Out of Time

I've been skeptical of Jalin Hyatt for a while. In September, I listed him among the players with no business being Giants in 2027 once John Harbaugh turns this around.

Saturday's elevation didn't change my view. Imagine if I told you in 2023 that Hyatt, by his fourth year, still would not have scored an NFL touchdown. That's where we are.

The numbers make the case. After 23 catches at 16.2 yards per catch as a rookie, he has 13 catches for 97 yards over the last two seasons combined.

To be fair, this is one game, and his role on Sunday is unknown. If he finally finds the end zone in Houston, good for him. But a former third-round pick riding the practice squad in Year 4 tells you where he stands.

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