The New York Giants face uncertainty about when star wide receiver Malik Nabers will return to action following his knee injury, according to head coach John Harbaugh on Thursday.
Speaking after the team’s third OTA practice, Harbaugh expressed hope that Nabers could rejoin the squad during training camp and be available for their September 13 season opener at home against the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football,” though he acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the recovery.
The 22-year-old receiver suffered a torn right ACL in September and received a complete meniscus repair on October 28. During the offseason, he required an additional procedure to clear away scar tissue that was creating stiffness in the joint.
“He’s in the middle of it. It’s such a hard thing. It’s an ACL, and whatever else he had in that knee,” Harbaugh explained. “Not a simple knee (injury), you know? So he’s in the slog of it, the grind of it, I would say. So, he’s fighting through it, and he’s here every day working hard at it.”
The coach emphasized the difficulty in making predictions about Nabers’ return, stating: “Just impossible to predict. I mean, the goal is to start the season and get out there sometime in training camp. That’d be the goal, and we’ll see what happens.”
Harbaugh maintained a flexible approach regarding the team’s preparation, saying: “If (Nabers is) out there, great. (If) he’s not out there, great. We’ll be ready to go either way. But I know he’s fighting like crazy to do his best to be out there, and he’s with the guys every day.”
Nabers had a remarkable rookie season in 2024, setting a franchise record with 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns across 15 games, earning a Pro Bowl selection. Before his injury last season, he had recorded 18 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns in four games.
The Giants have restructured their receiving corps during the offseason. They parted ways with Wan’Dale Robinson, who signed with the Tennessee Titans, while bringing in Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III. The team also selected Malachi Fields in the third round of the draft, with all three new additions participating in OTAs.
“I’m excited about those guys,” Harbaugh said regarding veterans Mooney and Austin. “They’re pros, starters, established starters in the NFL, and they look good.”
The team is also managing another injury situation, as receiver Darius Slayton remains out following core muscle surgery.
“He had a sports hernia thing,” Harbaugh noted. “That’s one of those deals you just got to — you can try to nurse it through and he nursed it through last year, I guess. And so I think we all agreed just get it fixed and he’ll be 100% for the start of training camp.”
