The New York Giants have spent the better part of training camp monitoring a handful of players recovering from injuries suffered last year. Easily the biggest name of the bunch is star wide receiver Malik Nabers, whose 2025 campaign was cut short after he suffered a torn ACL.
Nabers has spent the ensuing months working his way back to full health, but there have been some speed bumps along the way, and there’s a possibility that he won’t be ready for the Giants‘ Week 1 action. Nabers is still donning a red non-contact jersey at New York’s practices, and with the team’s preseason finale quickly approaching, head coach John Harbaugh provided an important update on his injury situation.
Malik Nabers Close to Shedding Non-Contact Jersey
The No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Nabers came in an immediately enjoyed a standout season as a rookie, despite not having any sort of consistency at the quarterback position. In 15 games, Nabers caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns, which earned him a Pro Bowl selection and a fifth-place finish in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race.
Nabers got off to a hot start again last season, catching 18 passes for 271 yards and two scores in what was essentially three games before he tore his ACL. During his absence, the team landed on Jaxson Dart as its franchise quarterback, so the hope is that this pairing will be able to get on the same page and take the offense to another level.
Throughout training camp, though, Nabers has been practicing on a limited basis as he continues to work his way back to full health. The final step involves being cleared for contact, but New York is continuing to play it safe with its star receiver. According to Harbaugh, Nabers could shed his red non-contact jersey this week, but per usual, the team is going to be cautious when it comes to ramping up his work on the field.
“John Harbaugh said WR Malik Nabers shedding the red non-contact practice jersey is a ‘possibility’ this week but ‘not a necessity.’ They will see how he feels tomorrow,” Dan Salomone of the team’s official website wrote in a post on X.
Giants Hoping Malik Nabers Will Be Ready by Week 1
GettyMalik Nabers #1 of the New York Giants speaks to the press during training camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
New York has quite a few playmakers at its disposal on offense, but when he’s healthy and on the field, Nabers is easily the best of the bunch. Sure, his recovery from his aforementioned ACL injury hasn’t exactly been straightforward, but if Nabers can rediscover his form from before he went down, there’s no reason to think he won’t be able to reestablish himself as one of the top players at his position in the league.
Nabers’ status is going to be a hot-button topic of discussion all year, even once he sheds his non-contact jersey. Of course, fans just want to see Nabers be cleared for contact, as that will pave the way for him to suit up for the team’s Week 1 action. As of right now, he seems to be on track to do so, but this is a situation that will need to be monitored throughout the week.
Giants HC John Harbaugh’s Latest Malik Nabers Injury Update Turns Heads