A notable conversation emerged this week between Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy Jr.
History is within reach for the pair of Giants rookies as both near 1,000 total yards from scrimmage.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only two pairs of rookie teammates have each finished with 1,000 or more scrimmage yards in a season — Abner Haynes (1,451 yards) and Johnny Robinson (1,069) in 1960 with the Dallas Texans (who later became the Kansas City Chiefs) and Reggie Bush and Marques Colston in 2006 with the New Orleans Saints.
So much has gone wrong for the Giants this year, but it appears, at the very least, they have a receiver and running back combination to build on.
For a team with barely any core, Nabers and Tracy represent the start of one, on offense at least.
“I was very aware of it,” Nabers said after practice on Wednesday. “I asked [Tracy] today how much he needs to get to his 1,000 all-purpose [yards]. He said he hasn’t looked at it, but it got brought up to me.
“It shows how much gratitude, how much work we put in through the season. Everything hasn’t gone our way but the young guys have stepped up tremendously and been trying to make plays when we are there. And it’s just a pat on both our backs.”
As the No. 6-overall pick in the draft, Nabers’ production has been expected — he’s hauled in 90 catches for 901 yards and four touchdowns, just one catch away from Odell Beckham’s franchise rookie reception record.
Tracy, a fifth-round pick after the Giants had already signed and planned to use Devin Singletary as the starting running back, has been a rare positive surprise.
Tracy has 695 rushing yards and 220 receiving yards — good for 915 scrimmage yards — and five total touchdowns.
“It means something to me, that one, that work you put in all throughout the year, through the offseason, it’s paying off,” Tracy said on Wednesday. “And two, the satisfaction of [knowing] you’re doing the right things, you’re preparing the right way, you’re playing the right way. And then lastly, it gives you the confidence to understand you belong. That just because you’re a rookie, you belong here.”
Tracy’s output has begun slowing down as he adjusts to a full NFL workload compared to the shorter college season with 253 scrimmage yards in the past four games.
If there’s something he can prove, and to still watch for fans, it’s that he’s capable of handling a full workload.
Notably, this also is only Tracy’s second season as a running back. He started as a receiver in college before making the transition his final two years at Purdue.
It’s provided him with a versatile skill set, and perhaps most importantly, a reason to believe he is just scratching the surface at the position.
“It feels good just to know that my skill set is valuable at this position and what I can do is going to be used at this organization,” Tracy said. “I feel good and I feel confident because I feel like I have a lot more to offer. I really do. I feel like I have a lot more I can do. I feel like I leave a lot on the field, just because I’m trying my best to make plays but also some games I may not be playing as free as I need to. That’s just because I’m new at the position, so I’m still trying to figure my way out and learn while I’m playing.
“I feel like I’m just now getting started. I think there’s a lot more coming soon.”
Yes, there are two ways to look at Nabers and Tracy’s production.
Yes, that the Giants have been so reliant on two rookies doesn’t paint a good picture for the rest of the offense or talent on the roster. Yes, some of it could simply be because the ball does need to go somewhere.
Either way, it’s given Nabers and Tracy plenty of playing time and helped fast-track their development. On one of the youngest teams in the league, they’re emerging as needed leaders.
“I think that’s huge,” Tracy said. “When next year comes around, we’re gonna know what to expect. … Nothing is gonna be a surprise to us. When we get in a game, when we get into certain situations in the game, I feel like we’ve had so much happen to us within our first season that when things do happen later on, they’re gonna look at us to answer or to lead. Yeah we’re young, but at the same time, it’s gonna benefit us. It’s definitely gonna benefit us.”