Malik Nabers is one of the most important players on the New York Giants, and his overall health will go a long way in determining the ultimate ceiling for John Harbaugh’s squad. Selected with the sixth-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the LSU product hit the ground running and was one of the few bright spots on the 2024 Giants. Appearing in 15 games while making 13 starts, the rookie finished his inaugural campaign with 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns on 170 targets despite enduring poor quarterback play. This strong season earned him a Pro Bowl nomination and a fifth-place finish in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.
Nabers entered the 2025 season as the team’s unquestioned WR1 and, for a little while, looked the part. Through the first four games of the season, the wideout recorded 18 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns while primarily catching passes from a well past his prime Russell Wilson. Unfortunately, Malik Nabers tore his ACL and missed the remainder of the season. ACL injuries generally require nine months to a year for full recovery, but the wide receiver appears to be enduring some complications as he works to get back on the field.
Malik Nabers Injury Update: Star WR Undergoes Surgery
According to The Athletic’s Dan Duggan, Malik Nabers underwent a second knee surgery a few weeks ago. This is obviously not ideal, but it’s not the end of the world for Giants fans. For one, Duggan notes that the procedure happened weeks ago and that Nabers should still be ready for the start of the 2026 season. Additionally, the surgery was just to remove scar tissue and was more of a cleanup operation.
With all that being said, Malik Nabers is likely to miss the start of training camp and will almost certainly start the offseason on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
It’s safe to say that all eyes will be on Nabers when he eventually returns to the field. 2025 first-round pick Jaxson Dart showed plenty of promise as a rookie, and almost all of his snaps came with Nabers sidelined. If the two can develop a rapport, it could go a long way in Dart making the Year 2 leap. However, the Giants could be in trouble if Nabers struggles to recapture his previous form. The team lost last year’s leading receiver, Wan’Dale Robinson, to the Tennessee Titans, and the rest of the depth chart leaves a lot to be desired.
