The Giants have been bracing for the worst on Malik Nabers since Week 4 of last season, when he tore his ACL going up for a deep ball against the Chargers. It required a full meniscus repair, then a second procedure earlier this year to clean out scar tissue that was limiting his mobility. That's the kind of injury that usually comes with a lot of hedging from a team. Instead, the tone out of camp has flipped toward genuine optimism.
More optimism that Malik Nabers will play Week 1 vs. the Cowboys barring a setback ⬇️
Field Yates isn't the only one saying it. ESPN's Jordan Raanan has been tracking Nabers' recovery all summer, and per SleeperNFL, Raanan reported Nabers is trending toward being ready for the opener against Dallas. Crucially, the Giants never put him on the PUP list to start camp, and he's reportedly gotten through the bulk of practice work without a setback — a real marker for a guy who tore his ACL less than a year ago.
It's worth remembering what the Giants are trying to get back. Nabers put together one of the best rookie receiving seasons in NFL history in 2024, hauling in 109 catches for 1,204 yards and 7 touchdowns — a franchise record for receptions and the second-most by any rookie ever, behind only Brock Bowers. He earned a Pro Bowl nod and instantly became the engine of New York's offense.
He was picking up right where he left off before the injury hit, too. Through 3 games in 2025, Nabers had 16 catches for 251 yards and 2 touchdowns before going down against the Chargers, a reminder of just how big a hole his absence left in that offense down the stretch.
Nothing is guaranteed here — knee recoveries can turn on a single bad step, and the caveat attached to every one of these updates is "barring a setback." But for a Giants team trying to build around a young quarterback in Jaxson Dart, getting its No. 1 receiver back for Week 1 instead of Week 4 or later would be a massive head start heading into the Cowboys game.