Malik Narvers might be dealing with a painful shoulder as he potentially helps Jackson Dart in his first start for the Giants.
Neighbors didn’t practice on Wednesday because of that shoulder injury, which seems to have happened during a collision in the end zone while attempting an acrobatic catch against the Chiefs last week. He’s previously battled back and toe injuries too.
Will Neighbors be ready to face the Chargers this Sunday?
“I understand,” he stated. “A decision will be made close to game time.”
If the darts are available alongside the top receiver, it seems straightforward to keep Russell Wilson on the bench.
“He did an amazing job of just being prepared,” Narvers noted. “I see him during practice—he’s sometimes a little slow to pick things up. We’ll definitely talk about how to play together. On the scout team, he’s always accurate, using his feet and pushing the ball downfield, whether he’s making smart plays or not.”
Dart is now set to become the sixth quarterback to catch a pass in the first 19 games of his career. So, what has he gathered from this quarterback carousel?
“They’re going to find a way to get the ball to the top receiver,” Narvers observed.
The lack of practice in the spring, plus “not really sitting” in a preseason game, and limited reps during training camp mean that Dart and Neighbors haven’t had much time to build chemistry on the field.
Given Neighbors’ recent injuries, moving forward as a starter right now is complicated.
“I’ve spent time with him all season,” he added. “This choice isn’t on me. My job is to run my routes and catch whatever’s thrown my way.”
Neighbors mentioned that he and head coach Brian Daboll watched some film together, analyzing Dart’s gameplay from Ole Miss, focusing on his deep-ball capabilities.
“I’m excited to see him play,” Narvers expressed.
The injury report also lists K Graham Gano (groin), TE Theo Johnson (toe), DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (foot), and RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (shoulder, concussion). C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (neck), WR Darius Slayton (calf), and LT Andrew Thomas (foot) had limited participation in practice.
Gano, who injured himself during warm-ups last week, managed only one field goal attempt and has been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Younghoe Koo and Jude McAtamney were signed on Tuesday and will compete to handle kicking duties against the Chargers, according to Daboll.
