New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers had a lot of hype going into last season.
Drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Nabers showed right away why he was worth that selection. In 15 games as a rookie, he caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns. He did this despite having four different quarterbacks throwing him the football.
The following offseason, the Giants upgraded the quarterback position by signing veterans Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson. They also drafted Jaxson Dart with the 25th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. With expected improvement at quarterback, hopes were high for Nabers going into his second season. Unfortunately, his year was cut short due to injury.
In Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Nabers suffered a torn ACL in his right knee. Dart took over as the starter in that week, but he and Nabers only got to play a quarter and a half together before Nabers went down. He underwent surgery in October, and with the recovery timeline being 9-12 months, the expectation was that Nabers would be ready for Week 1. His status, however, remains uncertain.
Nabers Could Miss The First Four to Five Weeks
In May, Nabers underwent a second “cleanup” procedure on his knee to remove scar tissue that was causing stiffness. At that time, the Giants said they remained hopeful he would be ready to start the season, but a lot has changed since.
Last week, Giants beat reporter Jordan Raanan said that Nabers could miss the first four to five games. Even when he returns, there’s no guarantee he’ll look like he did in his rookie season. However, Nabers is expected to return as camp starts, which is a step in the right direction.
Regardless of when he returns, the Giants will need their other pass catchers to step up. In the offseason, they signed former Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely to pair with third-year tight end Theo Johnson. Likely ran over 50 percent of his snaps as a slot receiver in his first four seasons, so he can be used in multiple ways in the passing game.
New York also brought in numerous receivers in the offseason. This includes Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin, JuJu Smith-Schuster, rookie Malachi Fields, and former fan-favorite Giant Odell Beckham Jr. At 33, Beckham is no longer the same player. Still, he and the other veterans will need to contribute while Nabers is out.
The Giants Need a Balanced Offense Without Nabers
Without their star receiver, Big Blue will need an effective run game to keep the offense balanced.
Cam Skattebo showed promise in his rookie season before suffering a fractured ankle in Week 8. He says he will be “ready to go” for Week 1 this year and is confident that he can come back strong. Third-year running back Tyrone Tracy has also been productive, having over 1,000 scrimmage yards in his first two seasons, and can be utilized as a runner and a pass catcher.
Additionally, quarterback Jaxson Dart showed in his rookie season that he can be a weapon as a runner. In 14 games, he ran for 487 yards and nine touchdowns, showing the ability to improvise and make plays outside of the pocket. If he continues to develop as a passer in year two, the Giants offense can survive without their star receiver to start the season.
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