New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton is currently taking a lot of heat for his dismal performance in Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints. Rightfully so. His three catches on six targets for 31 yards left a lot to be desired, especially when taking into account the costly drops and inexcusable fumble late in the first half.
Related: 2 winners (and 4 losers) from Giants' brutal Week 5 meltdown vs Saints
It’s very much looking like another meh season for the 28-year-old, but what isn’t getting enough attention is the hamstring injury he appeared to suffer late in the game. The seven-year veteran was seen limping along the sideline, which forced Jalin Hyatt and Beaux Collins into relief duty — something that didn’t go particularly well.
Big Blue is clearly stuck in some kind of cursed stretch, especially at wide receiver. Slayton’s injury comes just one week after the G-Men lost Malik Nabers for the season with a torn ACL. When speaking to the media Monday after the game, head coach Brian Daboll didn’t offer much clarity, telling reporters he had no update on Slayton’s status.
Brian Daboll says little about Slayton’s status as short week looms
Madelyn Burke shared Daboll’s postgame notes, with the team appearing to be just as in the dark as everyone else:
#Giants head coach Brian Daboll says he doesn't yet have an update on the health/availability of WR Darius Slayton (hamstring) and RB Tyrone Tracy Jr (shoulder) for Thursday's game against the Eagles, will find out later this morning
— Madelyn Burke (@MadelynBurke) October 6, 2025
The silence isn’t helping, especially with a short week ahead. The Philadelphia Eagles are coming to town Thursday night for a primetime matchup that suddenly feels very uphill.
And say what you want about Slayton’s Week 5 performance, his five games this season, or even his six-plus years in New York, but there’s no version of this roster where his absence helps rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. Things were already trending in the wrong direction with Nabers and Leek both out. Now the next man up is limping too.
Even in a small sample size, it’s clear Wan’Dale Robinson, Hyatt, and Collins aren’t going to be enough to drag the offense out of the mud. Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger showed flashes on Sunday, but that tight end room isn’t exactly built to carry the passing game either. This offense needs help — and Slayton, even flawed, still counts as help.
"Big Play Slay" didn't practice Monday, putting his status for primetime up in the air. As it stands, it feels very unlikely he'll see the field under the lights on Thursday night.
All eyes will be on Slayton’s hamstring as the week moves along. Whether he’s active Thursday or not, the Giants’ wide receiver depth chart is hanging on by a thread, and Slayton’s hamstring might be the last one.