Brian Baldinger is rolling the tapes and taking names.
After the Giants dropped their eighth straight game Sunday — a 29-21 defeat to the Commanders at home — the former NFL guard and NFL Network analyst didn’t mince words when watching a particular play in the second quarter, taking exception to embattled wide receiver Jalin Hyatt’s execution.
With Washington leading 19-7, quarterback Jaxson Dart threw a short pass up the middle intended for Hyatt, but it was picked off by the Commanders’ Mike Sainristil, who ran for 55 yards to the Giants’ 24-yard line.
The play, which marked Dart’s fourth interception of the season, led to a Commanders’ field goal to take a 22-7 halftime lead.
“Can [quarterback] Jaxson Dart just get a little bit of help?” Baldinger said.
“Here is the corner here, Mike Sainristil. He’s normally not an outside corner. He’s a slot defender, but because of injuries, he’s playing it. Here are the Giants running a stack and Jalin Hyatt here is going to run this dig route. This box cut right here and it’s a horrible route. That’s not how you run a route. You don’t round it off. You don’t slow down. You drop your weight and you run a box cut, is what you do. You go sharp to separate from that corner.
Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil (0) intercepts a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (13) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. AP
“The corner is where he is supposed to be. Upfield shoulder, but you don’t run a route like this. So, now, he lets the corner jump right in front of him. It’s a terrible route. He slows down. He’s not sharp. The only good thing Jalin Hyatt does on this is he does chase down Sainristil here and make the tackle 55 yards down the field. But can we give the quarterback some help here? Please!”
What Baldinger articulated isn’t anything new when it comes to Hyatt.
The third-year wideout, whom the Giants drafted with the No. 73 pick out of Tennessee in 2023, has been struggling to earn opportunities within Big Blue’s offense.
When he has received those changes, minimal positive impact has been made.
Another blow came in the Giants’ 27-20 loss to the Packers on Nov. 16 when Hyatt cut off his route in the end zone, causing backup quarterback Jameis Winston to throw an interception instead of a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter.
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger looks on during the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles on September 21, 2025 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This season, Hyatt — whom general manager Joe Schoen traded up for, giving away 2023 third- and fourth-rounders — has only caught five of 14 targets for a mere 35 yards.
Hyatt still has yet to score his first NFL touchdown, and most of his 470 career yards came in his rookie season (373).