Montrell Washington among first batch of Giants cuts

The receiver piece of the Giants roster puzzle is starting to fit together.

Wideouts Montrell Washington, Zach Pascal and Jordan Bly were three of the first eight players cut Friday as the Giants started to drop from 90 to 53 players.

The others were inside linebackers Dyontae Johnson and K.J. Cloyd, offensive linemen Jimmy Morrissey and Jaison Williams, and cornerback O’Donnell Fortune.

The departures of Washington — who flashed spectacular catch ability early in camp before drops caught up to him — and seven-year veteran Pascal (169 catches) provide some roster-bubble relief for Jalin Hyatt and undrafted rookie Beaux Collins, as well as clarity about who will be behind Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson.

“I think top to bottom, it’s as good a group as I’ve been around — competitively, in the way that they support each other, in the way that they are prepared every day,” receivers coach Mike Groh said last week. “They’ve all kind of taken their turns and maximized the opportunities. They’ve made it very hard on the people who have to make the decisions.”

Hyatt caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Jameis Winston on Thursday against the Patriots after dropping two deep shots from Jaxson Dart.

“Ran a couple good routes,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “I’m sure there are a couple plays he’d like to have back, but I like the way he responded in that drive on that touchdown catch.”

Bly’s father, Dre, is a Jets assistant defensive backs coach.

Johnson spent two years with the Giants, including on the practice squad as an undrafted rookie in 2023, and made the initial 53-man roster last season before landing on injured reserve.

He played in two games.

The Giants have to cut 39 more players before 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Players let go in the first round of cuts typically have not resurfaced on the practice squad during Daboll’s first three seasons.

RB Cam Skattebo made his NFL debut Thursday after just one practice, returning from a hamstring injury.

“The mindset the whole way through was, ‘Get healthy,’ ” Skattebo said. “If it took me six weeks, then it took me six weeks. I’m getting better every day.”

The rookie fourth-round pick initially had a setback when he first tried to return to practice.

He had no hamstring issues in college.

“I love the game of football, so I’m going to do everything I can to be on the field,” Skattebo said. “I started noticing it wasn’t time to go out there yet.”

DB TJ Moore, whose Thursday went from euphoric with a pick-six to devastating when he suffered a gruesome leg injury late in the fourth quarter and left the stadium in an ambulance, remains hospitalized.

The undrafted rookie will undergo surgery no later than Saturday, Daboll said.

RG Evan Neal allowed an eye-opening four pressures on 24 pass-blocking snaps in his second preseason game at a new position after busting at right tackle.

“He’s done some good things, and there’s things we need to work on,” Daboll said. “He had a couple good clean-the-pockets and some movement in the running game.”

The NFL leader in preseason touchdown receptions entering Friday was TE Greg Dulcich, who caught two from Dart and one from Tommy DeVito.

He also had 411 receiving yards as a rookie with the 2022 Broncos, catching passes from Russell Wilson.

“These quarterbacks are all so talented, and they’ve got such great poise,” Dulcich said. “The grasp that they have of this offense and how to bring all of us along is really awesome.”

Dulcich, who is battling with rookie Thomas Fidone and Daniel Bellinger for maybe two roster spots, also had a potentially touchdown-saving tackle at the end of a 22-yard punt return by the Patriots.