Malik Nabers has remained on the sidelines at New York Giants training camp, but he looks ready to take to the field alongside Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo for the first time in the coming days
Malik Nabers
Malik Nabers is closing in on a return to the Giants
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John Harbaugh has spoken promisingly about Malik Nabers being ready to suit up in Week One for the New York Giants ahead of a potential return to full practice soon.
Nabers has not yet been in pads with the Giants at training camp while continuing to recover from his brutal knee injury, which ruled him out for the 2025 season, tearing his ACL and meniscus. It came after the former LSU superstar dominated in his rookie season, before the Giants saw quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo play at a high level for the team last year.
These factors, along with Harbaugh joining from the Ravens as the new head coach, have brought much optimism around the franchise. And Harbaugh will have only excited fans further with his latest quotes on Nabers' pending return.
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When asked if Nabers is trending towards playing in Week One, Harbaugh said: “Those are all kind of things that you can assume. It’s just based on watching the guy practice.
"The only thing I know more than you guys know is what the docs and the trainers tell me, as far as his rehab. And that’s doing well. He’s doing really well with that. He’s strong. He’s in a good place.”
Nabers' ACL tear occurred 11 months ago, missing the majority of the 2026 season after a dominant rookie season.
Harbaugh
John Harbaugh has confirmed Nabers is trending towards playing in Week One
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He has played just once with quarterback Jaxson Dart, with Russell Wilson being the starting quarterback entering last season.
Should he return to practice soon, Harbaugh has already told his team to be mindful of their levels of contact, wanting to avoid injuries heading into the season.
The Giants lost seven players to season-ending injuries in 2025, including running back Cam Skattebo, as well as Nabers.
He said: "It’ll be a protect-each-other kind of deal, but that’ll be true for everybody right now.
Nabers
Nabers' return will be a huge boost for the Giants
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"We’ll be in this mode this week, we’ll be a little more, as far as the contact part of it, probably a little more in-season-ish in terms of taking care of one another."
The Giants open up their season against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, September 13 on Sunday Night Football.
They'll be expected to be much improved this year, with Dart, Skattebo and Nabers all set to play together as starters for the first time.
Nabers had 1,200 yards in his rookie season, giving Dart a go-to receiver to target this season.
The receiver is being drafted within the top 35 selections in NFL Fantasy drafts, with some expecting him to be a potential league-winner should be remain healthy throughout the year.
Former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is set to call plays for Dart, being one of the more pass-heavy play callers in the NFL.