However, with less than two weeks remaining before the Giants open the regular season at home against the Dallas Cowboys, the team’s No. 1 wideout—who is returning from a torn ACL in his right knee—is not committing to an immediate return.

According to Pat Leonard of the NY Daily News, Nabers was noncommittal regarding any specific return date, whether for Week 1 or otherwise. While he feels great, he still faces several physical checkpoints before knowing he is completely ready.

Nabers focused on health and mental readiness

Nabers is focused on returning as soon as possible. Despite taking risks and feeling ready to play, head coach John Harbaugh may ultimately decide to protect his health rather than rush him onto the field.

“My mind is focused on playing the regular season: playing whenever that happens,” Nabers said following Monday’s practice. “There are still some things you have to check off the list to participate. I’m still going through that, still listening to the trainers, still listening to the doctors and sharing everything with them.”

Nabers prefers to keep those specific health checkpoints private, though he corrected himself during media availability, from feeling “pretty good” to “really good, honestly.” Still, lingering doubts remain over whether his progress is enough to put him in uniform when the Cowboys arrive in town on the night of September 13 for their debut in the 2026-26 NFL season.

“That’s going to be a decision made when the time comes,” Nabers added. “There are certain things that, as a football player, you have to mentally prepare before going into a game where everyone is watching you, so if you make a mistake it’s broadcast to everyone. Nobody really knows, so I want to be able to go out there and not make mistakes, and just be able to move all over the field and do what I do. I’m getting there, without a doubt. I’m getting there.”

According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, the organization will treat Berrios as a full member of the roster. “Harbaugh said Braxton Berrios is their punt returner and they’ll treat him like a member of the 53-man roster,” Duggan reported. “Just utilizing a roster tool by carrying him on the practice squad.”

The Giants cut Berrios on Sunday ahead of the deadline to trim rosters down to 53 players, doing so with a handshake agreement to bring him back. As a vested veteran, Berrios does not have to pass through waivers. That allowed the Giants to retain another player who might have otherwise missed the cut and been subject to waivers, where he could have been claimed by another team.

Harbaugh’s roster decisions

A complicated decision for Harbaugh centers on how to utilize Berrios alongside wide receiver Jalin Hyatt. Both Berrios and Hyatt were released during final cuts over the weekend, while veteran Odell Beckham Jr. earned a spot on the roster.

Hyatt, a third-round pick in 2023 who has struggled to gain traction in the NFL, was injured for most of the summer. He cleared waivers and returned to the practice field Monday wearing No. 13, while Beckham temporarily remained in No. 3.

Berrios is a veteran with a guaranteed contract who did not need to pass through the waiver process. He was released, knowing the Giants wanted to keep him as the primary punt returner. The team expects to elevate Berrios for the home opener and eventually incorporate him into the main roster.

Other players signed to the practice squad included receiver Dalen Cambre and quarterback Jake Haener. The 30-year-old Berrios signed a one-year contract as a free agent this NFL offseason. He has played in just 10 games over the past two years due to injuries and is entering his seventh professional season after previous stints with the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and Houston Texans.

The No.13 is usually seen as the bad luck number. However, Odell Beckham Jr. wants it. During a press conference, he said there “definitely will be some conversations” about No. 13. “It would be an honor and a privilege to put that back on,” OBJ concluded.

OBJ used No.13 for all his initial five seasons with the Giants. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year and created plenty of highlights with that jersey. His three Pro Bowl selections came with that number too.

Jalin Hyatt’s stats with jersey No.13

Hyatt used the number ever since he got to the Giants. However, his stats are not as inspiring as OBJ’s. In fact, not even close. Hyatt had played 41 games and has 36 career-receptions for 470 yards.

If this is about meritocracy, OBJ is clearly the one deserving to choose the No.13. In fact, he actually made the 53-man roster, to which he reacted in a heartwarming way. Meanwhile, Hyatt looks like a player that will never live up to what the Giants hope he is.

Why did the Giants brought Hyatt back?

The Giants brought Jalin Hyatt back onto their practice squad after he cleared waivers following final roster cuts. The team kept him around on the practice squad to continue developing his deep-threat speed without using an active 53-man roster spot.

However, after years of trying, one must wonder what is it that they see in Hyatt. He’s proven to not be the weapon the former third-round pick was supposed to be. At least for now, he’ll be in the practice squad.

“No number change yet for Odell. He won’t be able to wear No. 3 since Abdul Carter has that, so likely just a matter of time until he’s back in No. 13,” Dan Duggan of The Athletic wrote on X.

Abdul Carter has no plans to change his jersey number, and the only real obstacle in the way of Beckham Jr. claiming his trademark No. 13 jersey in New York isn’t even much of a hurdle. Although the Giants decided to part ways with Jalin Hyatt, the wideout is back, as he was signed to the practice squad.

Thus, the No. 13 Big Blue jersey isn’t exactly vacant, but it is technically up for grabs regardless. Simply put, Beckham Jr. has priority over Hyatt, or rather, any 53-man roster player has priority over a practice-squad member.

No official deadline for number change

It shouldn’t take long before Odell finalizes his number for the season, and all signs point toward No. 13. The No. 3 jersey isn’t available, leaving only one option, as the star wide receiver out of LSU has never worn another number in his pro career.

Usually, NFL players select their official numbers for each season after the massive roster cuts in the final week of the preseason. Throughout training camp and the preseason, rosters often feature duplicate numbers, as was the case with Beckham Jr. and Carter in New York.

With the 53-man rosters set, duplicate numbers are no longer allowed, and thus Beckham Jr. will have to change his jersey number. Most signs indicate it will happen in the coming days.

OBJ confirms jersey number change is coming

Beckham Jr. has admitted his wish to return to No. 13. During his latest media availability, Odell let Hyatt know his intentions regarding the Giants’ No. 13 jersey, and it’s safe to say Hyatt’s tenure holding that title is numbered.

The writing is on the wall: Beckham Jr. is back in East Rutherford, and it’s about to look a lot more like 2016 at MetLife Stadium again. The kid who inspired a generation and made one-handed catches the coolest thing in football is back as an adult in the Big Apple, and he will be taking his number back.

Beckham Jr. and Hyatt talk numbers

There will be a conversation between Beckham Jr. and Hyatt. It won’t necessarily be a request to give up his number, but rather a polite chat to let the P-squad member know what will happen next.

Back when Hyatt was drafted by New York with the 73rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Beckham Jr. sent a message to the player who was called to be his successor, wishing him luck in the Big Apple.

As fate would have it, Hyatt wouldn’t pan out in New York, and Beckham Jr. has been brought back, most likely to reclaim the No. 13 jersey, which has proven to be a weight on the shoulders of anyone who wore it. Like Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, only Beckham Jr. can bear it.

Joe Milton is a huge physical talent and teams like the New York Jets, who have been in the backup QB market, could see him as a high upside backup. Also, teams like the Miami Dolphins could see Milton as a project worth developing.

As for Dallas, Dak Prescott is still the QB1, clearly. The backup is now Sam Howell. The Cowboys, however, have only two quarterbacks on the depth chart. Hence, they should be eyeing someone else.

Joe Milton’s profile is very tempting

As stated, Milton has a very strong arm. However, that’s not the only thing that makes him and enticing project. Milton is also huge, strong, and has elite speed at 6’5″. Basically, he is a quarterback with a linebacker frame. The New York Jets are looking at Jake Browning, but could get swayed by Milton.

Hence, he fits into the Anthony Richardson, Cam Newton mold of physically imposing athletes with huge arms. However, consistency is key, and that’s what Milton hasn’t been able to maintain.

Updated Cowboys QB depth chart

As stated, this is a very thin QB room now. It is likely that the Cowboys go for another quarterback. However, it’ll be one that adapts better to the scheme they practice under head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

• Dak Prescott
• Sam Howell

After making the 53-man roster, the rookie earned the coaching staff’s trust and will have a role as an alternative to Smith. The depth chart currently has no other names at the position, although additional moves to strengthen the quarterback room have not been ruled out.

The Jets will enter their second season with Glenn as head coach, looking to make their mark in what once again appears to be a competitive AFC East. The head-to-head matchups with the Miami Dolphins will be crucial, while the possibility of securing a potential wild-card spot will be contested alongside the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills.

Klubnik impressed during the preseason

Cade Klubnik, drafted in the fourth round out of the Clemson Tigers, got a lot of snaps this preseason, putting up a mixed run across three games where he completed 21 of 34 passes for roughly 190–197 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. After starting with a brief outing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he took charge of the offense during a 17-0 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, going 10-of-14 for 75 yards while adding a 16-yard run to lead a pair of scoring drives.

Things hit a rough patch in the finale against the New York Giants, where he played the entire first half under constant pressure, finishing 6-for-13 for 59 yards and a pick in a 23-6 loss. Despite that rocky finish, he did enough overall to convince the staff.

New York wants to get off to a strong start

The Jets want to finally establish themselves as the top team in their division after several years of disappointing seasons. Now, they are putting their faith in Geno Smith, who arrived from the Las Vegas Raiders bringing a fresh sense of optimism to the Big Apple.

The start of the season does not sound encouraging at all, as the Jets will not only face direct tough rivals on the road but will also host high-caliber teams at MetLife Stadium. These are the first five games for Aaron Glenn’s squad.

• Week 1, at Tennessee Titans (September 13)
• Week 2, vs Green Bay Packers (September 20)
• Week 3, at Detroit Lions, (September 27)
• Week 4, at Chicago Bears (October 4)
• Week 5, vs Cleveland Browns (October 11)

“The Giants did not get any players via waivers,” Jordan Raanan of ESPN reported on X. As noted by Dan Duggan of The Athletic, however, it’s unclear whether New York actually placed a claim on a player in the first place.

Because waivers are determined by team priority and there are no limits on how many players a team can target, there is a scenario in which the Giants tried claiming a player but were beaten to it by a franchise with a worse record last season. If that was the case, then New York did nothing wrong.

NY Giants add no player from waivers

However, some believe the G-Men may have overlooked players on waivers, making no claims and thus coming away empty-handed. Harbaugh and his staff may be confident in the 53-man roster—which Odell Beckham Jr. made—and that might be the silver lining. Regardless, believing the team won’t make any more changes might be too much wishful thinking, even for a team in the city where dreams are made.

Teams making waiver-wire additions are usually those that missed the playoffs the previous season. This year was no different, as the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots were the only 2025 playoff teams awarded waiver claims. Fifth overall in waiver order, it’s definitely surprising New York didn’t come away with a single player. To some, however, it’s an encouraging sign as it could indicate Harbaugh and company trust their current lineup enough.

Moreover, it’s not as if New York didn’t address its depth. While they didn’t sign any new player, the Giants did bring back players that were previously released. For example, Braxton Berrios and Jake Haener, who are among the players returning to a practice squad spot.

Positions NY Giants could have strengthened

“If Giants put in claims today, I think they’ll be for defensive tackle, maybe a cornerback or a developmental edge to add to that room,” NorthJersey’s Art Stapleton said prior to the waiver-wire deadline.

Joe Schoen had hinted the Giants would explore more roster additions, but that wasn’t the case. At least not through waivers. Maybe the G-Men have an ace up their sleeve, which they plan on using to work out a trade or sign a player in free agency.

Still, many devotees among the fanbase in The Big Apple can’t help but feel this was a big missed opportunity. Hopefully it won’t become a season-long trend for Big Blue in 2026. Others like the fact that Harbaugh is doubling down on his roster-cut day decisions and sticking with the lineup he put together. There is no right or wrong decision, or at least no way to tell which is better before Week 1 has even taken place. It all comes down to subjectivity.

It will be interesting to see what position John Harbaugh uses him at if needed. According to The Athletic’s Dan Duggan on X, the G-Men don’t have another viable punt returner on the roster, making this a potential role for Berrios.

Fate seems to be bringing both sides back together for the 2026 NFL season. In this league, second chances are often part of the game, and that is exactly what happened with this team, which has serious aspirations of reaching the Super Bowl.

More returns for the Giants

The moves on Harbaugh’s team went beyond the final roster cuts. According to insider Dan Duggan on his X account, six more players are returning to the Giants’ practice squad:

• WR Dalen Cambre
• WR Jalin Hyatt
• S Raheem Layne
• FB Grant Finley
• DL Josh Tupou
• QB Jake Haener

Dalen Cambre has had a strong preparation period alongside the rest of the team, so it makes sense that he has returned, although in a different role. Eventually, the receiving corps will need his help throughout the year, just like Jalin Hyatt, who fought until the very end to earn his spot.

Haener’s situation can be explained by the limited number of quarterbacks New York kept after the final roster cuts. The veteran will now be an option behind Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston if needed.

How the Giants’ receiving corps shaped up

The wait is finally over, and we now know which players will represent New York in the upcoming NFL season. Odell Beckham Jr. finally earned a spot on the Giants’ 53-man roster, which will feature five talented wide receivers.

Darius Muasau heads to Foxborough

Linebacker Darius Muasau was waived by the Giants and, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan on X, the New England Patriots have claimed him off waivers. The insider also added that New York did not claim any players through the waiver process.

The decision represents a disappointing conclusion for a player who arrived in New York with considerable expectations after becoming one of college football’s most explosive receivers at Tennessee.

Hyatt was selected by the Giants with the 73rd overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. New York viewed his speed and big-play ability as valuable additions to its offense, but he never developed into the consistent receiving threat the organization hoped to have.

Why are the Giants waiving Jalin Hyatt?

Jordan Schultz reported the Giants’ decision on Hyatt: “Sources: The Giants are going to waive WR Jalin Hyatt, as the former Tennessee standout and Biletnikoff winner will look for a fresh start.”

His production declined after an encouraging rookie season. Hyatt finished his first year with 23 receptions for 373 yards, but his numbers dropped significantly in the following seasons. That lack of development ultimately made it difficult for the Giants to justify keeping him in an increasingly crowded wide receiver room.

Jalin Hyatt never lived up to expectations

Jalin Hyatt’s speed was never the question. Coming out of Tennessee, he was known for his ability to stretch defenses vertically and create explosive plays. His college résumé also included the 2022 Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top receiver. The Giants hoped that skill set would translate to the NFL.

Instead, Hyatt struggled to establish a consistent role in the offense. He leaves New York after recording just 36 receptions across his first three NFL seasons, according to available career statistics. For a player drafted 73rd overall, that production was not enough to secure a long-term place on the roster.

Giants’ crowded WR room sealed Hyatt’s fate

The decision becomes easier to understand when looking at the Giants’ wide receiver competition. New York added several experienced options during the offseason, while Odell Beckham Jr. earned his roster spot after an impressive summer.

Darnell Mooney also remained in the mix, while Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton are expected to play important roles. Calvin Austin III’s season-ending injury appeared to create an opportunity for Hyatt, but the Giants ultimately chose other options.

What comes next for Jalin Hyatt?

Jalin Hyatt will now look for a fresh start with another NFL team. His speed, college production and relatively young age could still make him an intriguing reclamation project for a team looking for a vertical threat.

The Giants, meanwhile, have decided that the best path forward is to move on. For Hyatt, the next opportunity could be his chance to show that the disappointing end to his Giants career does not define his NFL future.

“Forever my heart bleeds blue,” Odell Beckham Jr. wrote on his Instagram Stories, alongside a video of the streets of New York with Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ “Empire State of Mind” playing in the background.

In true New Yorker fashion, the 33-year-old wide receiver sent the ultimate message to the fanbase as the 2026 NFL season looms around the corner. Shortly after Odell’s spot on the Giants’ wide receiver depth chart was confirmed, he confirmed where his heart is—and has always been.

Year 6 in New York for Odell

Beckham Jr. is back where it all started for him in the NFL. Seven years after the Giants traded him to the Cleveland Browns, Odell is back in Big Blue. Not many expected him to even make the 53-man roster.

However, Calvin Austin’s season-ending injury opened the door for Beckham Jr., and he didn’t disappoint. As a result, Beckham Jr. made the five-man wide receiver group, which will add Braxton Berrios, who was released but will be back for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

So far in his Giants career, Odell has played 59 games across five years (2014-2018). Beckham Jr. has caught 390 passes for 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns.

Odell’s milestone watcher for 2026

Beckham Jr. can set incredible marks in both his Giants career and entire NFL career during the 2026 season. Barring injury, Odell will reach 8,000 receiving yards in his professional career, as well as 5,500 yards with the G-Men, perhaps even 6,000.

Beckham Jr. is one receiving touchdown away from reaching the 60-touchdown mark in his career. It feels pretty much like a done deal, but Odell hasn’t caught a touchdown pass since Dec. 10, 2023. Back then, he was playing for John Harbaugh on the Baltimore Ravens.

John Harbaugh decided to keep four running backs on the 53-man roster: Cam Skattebo, Najee Harris, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary. The biggest question heading into the roster deadline was whether the Giants would keep Tracy after a difficult preseason.

The running back made two costly mistakes in consecutive games, but his overall body of work was strong enough for New York to give him another opportunity.

Giants RB depth chart for 2026

Cam Skattebo appears to enter the season as the Giants’ RB1. The second-year player quickly established himself as one of the most intriguing assets on the roster in 2025 before his ankle injury.

Behind Skattebo, however, the depth chart remains up for grabs. Najee Harris brings the most experience to the group after spending the early part of his career as a major contributor with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

His return from the injury that ended his 2025 season with the Los Angeles Chargers will be closely monitored, but his experience could make him an important part of the rotation.

Devin Singletary is another reliable option who already knows the Giants’ system, while Tracy has shown flashes of the explosiveness that made him such an intriguing player last season.

How did Tyrone Tracy Jr. survive the roster deadline?

Tracy entered the final stretch of the preseason under considerable pressure after making two mistakes that could have changed the way the Giants viewed his roster status.

Against the Minnesota Vikings, he missed a crucial pass-protection assignment that resulted in a hit on quarterback Jaxson Dart. Then, against the Miami Dolphins, Tracy lost a critical fumble. Those two plays were particularly damaging because they involved exactly the type of mistakes coaches cannot afford from a running back.

Still, Harbaugh made it clear that those moments would not erase Tracy’s overall body of work. The running back continued to demonstrate his ability as a runner and receiver, and his value on special teams also helped his case.

Ultimately, the Giants decided that Tracy had shown enough to deserve another season in New York. Now, all four running backs will have a chance to prove where they belong on the Giants’ 2026 depth chart.