Will Giants rookie Malik Nabers be ready to face Seahawks?

Giants coach Brian Daboll said Thursday that Malik Nabers is “making progress” as he deals with the first concussion of his NFL career.

“We’ll let it go as long as we can let it go," Daboll said. "I’m just taking it day by day here.”

The Giants' flight to Seattle leaves on Saturday morning. They play the Seahawks on Sunday.

Asked Thursday if, at some point, the Giants could run out of time for Nabers to clear protocol, Daboll basically agreed.

The rookie wide receiver was in the locker room on Thursday, talking to teammates. He was not dressed for practice.

Nabers has two days to clear concussion protocol. For that to happen, he must go through an exercise program that begins with a bike ride followed by an agility drill and then non-contact, football practice with a helmet on.

If any of his symptoms increase, he has to start over with the protocol. Once he is symptom free, he has to be cleared by the team physician.

The final step is for him to be cleared by an independent neurological consultant, who has been pre-approved by both the NFL and the Players’ Association.

Nabers leads the NFL with 35 receptions and ranks second with 386 receiving yards. Houston’s Nico Collins leads the league with 489 receiving yards. Seattle’s D.K. Metcalf is third with 366 receiving yards.

If Nabers can’t play, the Giants will need other receivers to step up. That includes Jalin Hyatt, the third-round draft pick from 2023 who has been targeted just three times this season and has no catches.  

Hyatt said he is ready.

“I'm a competitor, I want to be out there and be able to play and obviously, I didn't have a lot of chances this season,” Hyatt said. “But it's a long season, things happen, injuries happen, and I got to be ready, I got to be ready whenever my number's called. And if it is called this week, I'll be ready.”

Asked if quarterback Daniel Jones has guaranteed him 13 targets per game, as Nabers has received, Hyatt laughed.

“Yeah, I've been in his ear,” Hyatt said. “I know he's right here, he's my locker mate. So, every time I see him, I'll say something to him. But like I said, we're going to be prepared, we got to be ready, we have a good game plan that I like. And I just can't wait to go out there with DJ and the offensive line and obviously our receivers, and make plays, and we can do that at Seattle.”

The Giants may need all the help that is available to them in Seattle, and that includes playing well defensively.

With Devin Singletary dealing with a groin injury, it may be the Giants defense that has to play biggest against the Seahawks.

Inside linebacker Bobby Okereke said the defense is ready for the challenge.

“I think the pass rush is a strength of our defense,” Okereke said. “I think from an operation standpoint and a and a communications standpoint, we’re in a much better place [than earlier this season]. I feel like cohesively, as a unit, we’re operating better with more coherence. Obviously, the emphasis every week is on tackling, especially against a Seattle offense that has forced 52 missed tackles in the first four games. So, tackling will be paramount.”

Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said the defense remains a work in progress, and he added that will always be the case.

The Giants have two takeaways this season.

“Areas that need improvement, obviously, are takeaways,” Okereke said. “I think that was a strong suit for us last year, when we tied for the league lead in takeaways. So, we have to make sure that’s an emphasis and we bring back that competitive fire with takeaways. That would be a huge bonus for us.”

Notes & quotes: Bowen said that Deonte Banks, the Giants' best cornerback, has faced an impressive group of top receivers this season, including Justin Jefferson of the Vikings and Amari Cooper of the Browns. “Every team has got No. 1 receivers that are good players,” Bowen said. “So, every week you're going to find that. This week they got three really talented receivers. I think he's done a good job. He’s challenged. We've got to work on the finish piece. He's been in good positions down the field for the most part.” . . .  Seattle (3-1) is a first-place team, but on Monday night suffered its first defeat after allowing Jared Goff to go 18-for-18 passing in a 42-29 loss at Detroit.

By Kimberly Jones

kimberly.jones@newsday.comkimjonessports

Kimberly Jones covers the Giants for Newsday, a beat she first worked in the early 2000s before joining the YES Network to cover the Yankees. She worked for the NFL Network for more than a decade and has been heard semi-regularly on WFAN.