“Let’s play together!,” Nabers commented to his colleague on his latest Instagram post. OBJ expressed excitement at the prospect of returning to his first NFL team.

There’s still no certainty regarding Odell’s potential return to the Giants. As the team continues shaping its roster for the upcoming season, he could become an intriguing option for the receiving corps if it comes to fruition.

Injuries: Odell’s curse?

Once one of the most explosive talents in the NFL, Odell Beckham Jr. saw his Hall of Fame trajectory derailed by a relentless string of severe lower-body injuries.

His decline began with a fractured left ankle in 2017 that required surgery, followed by a sports hernia in 2019. However, the toughest blows came later: two ACL tears in the same left knee—one in 2020 with the Browns and another during Super Bowl LVI in 2022.

These major setbacks, along with chronic hamstring and quad issues, stripped him of the elite elite speed and change-of-direction that defined his historic early years with the Giants.

Passing alternatives for Dart

The New York air attack looks formidable for the 2026 season, providing Jaxson Dart with a diverse and explosive group of playmakers. The unit is headlined by superstar Malik Nabers, who serves as the primary engine of the offense, supported by reliable veterans Darius Slayton and Darnell Mooney as the primary outside threats.

Adding crucial depth to the rotation are Isaiah Hodgins, Beaux Collins, and the lightning-fast Calvin Austin III, ensuring the Giants have the personnel to attack defenses at every level. Here’s the intriguing WR room that Harbaugh will have:

In Week 4, Nabers suffered a torn ACL during the Giants’ victory over the Chargers. The turf at MetLife Stadium has long been criticized for its poor conditions, and unfortunately, it has now claimed another victim.

Nabers will miss the remainder of the season and could even be sidelined at the start of the next campaign. For that reason, he has already identified who should take his role as Jaxson Dart’s primary target: Jalin Hyatt.

Malik Nabers identifies his replacement: Who is Jalin Hyatt?

The Giants have lost their most dangerous weapon in Nabers, leaving Dart without his top option in the passing game.

Even though this is a massive blow for the Giants’ offense, Nabers doesn’t believe it’s the end of the world. He pointed out that the team still has a solid group of wideouts, and one underdog in particular could rise to the occasion.

Jalin Hyatt, now in his third year with the Giants, revealed that he spoke with Nabers following the injury. According to Hyatt, the star wideout encouraged him and told him he would shine in his absence.

“We had a long talk,” Jalin Hyatt said. “He’s one of my best friends on this team. He’s been in my corner, he’s kind of seen the adversity I’ve been through. He just told me it’s my chance, this is the time for me to do what I’ve got to do. So I’m going to be ready. I just can’t wait to go out, play Sunday, play with Jaxson, and get a win.”

Jalin Hyatt’s numbers so far

The Giants drafted Hyatt in 2023 with the 73rd overall pick. He posted a decent rookie season with 23 receptions for 373 yards, but he will need to elevate his game significantly if he wants to live up to expectations.

So far, Hyatt has yet to score a touchdown in the NFL. In fact, he has not recorded a single reception this season, but his workload is expected to increase dramatically as he takes on a bigger role with Nabers sidelined.

Joy was evident in the words of the former Ole Miss player who, despite securing his first win as a professional in the league, didn’t forget about his teammate, immediately dedicating a heartfelt message to him.

“Malik is — I’ve said it — Malik’s one of one,” the talented quarterback said. “When you have a guy like that on the field, you have all the confidence in the world that he can just be a dominant game-changer.

“But I thought from that moment, obviously, it’s really hard seeing one of your best friends go down, but we were able to rally, and I thought guys made some good plays. But, obviously, prayers to him.”

“You hate to see your teammate, your brother, go down and look in pain like that,” Dart also added. “But I’m just going to be praying for him, and I’ve got his back through it all.”

What happened to Nabers?

The New York Giants’ worst fears were confirmed Monday as an MRI revealed that star wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his right knee during Sunday’s victory over the Chargers.

The devastating non-contact injury immediately shutters the 2025 campaign for the explosive young playmaker, dealing a catastrophic blow to the Giants’ offense and significantly impeding the development of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.

Nabers will now begin a long rehabilitation process with an eye toward returning for the 2026 season.

Other weapons for Dart in the Giants’ offense

Giants’ WR depth chart for Jaxson Dart in 2025 NFL season is suddenly thin, thrusting Wan’Dale Robinson and veteran Darius Slayton into the spotlight as the team’s top receiving options.

The former Kentucky player is the most likely candidate to become the primary target for rookie QB, having already shown solid production from the slot.

Slayton provides a proven deep threat on the outside, but New York will also desperately need 2023 third-rounder Jalin Hyatt to finally step up and utilize his elite speed to fill the massive void left by Nabers’ catastrophic injury. The rest of the wide receiver room will need to collectively elevate their game to keep the offense from stalling.

The New York Giants won their first game of the season but it costed them a hefty price. During said game vs. the Los Angeles Chargers, the G-Men’s best wide receiver, Malik Nabers, suffered a torn ACL. After that, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. begged the NFL for a change at MetLife Stadium.

Formerly a Giant himself, OBJ knows what’s to play in that stadium. MetLife is infamous for using turf and has taken plenty of players out with non-contact injuries.

On his X profile, OBJ said, “Dear NFL, I mean this with the utmost love and respect. We (The NFL) take all the precautions in the world with EVERYthing else when it comes to players ‘health’ and ‘safety.’ PLZ. PLZ. PLZ. GET RID OF THE TURF.” He also added, “Respect and u kno I loveeeee the Giants, but DeathLife has taken too many talented players away from the game.”

Nabers’ injury is a huge blow to the Giants

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the MRI showed that Nabers indeed suffered a season-ending torn ACL against the Chargers. Nabers is clearly the best player on the Giants offense. With rookie Jaxson Dart now at quarterback, it was clear for this team that the mission was to establish an automatic connection between the two of them. Now, they will have to wait until 2026.

Nabers now will undergo surgery and a long rehab to come back next year. The Giants will have to work with an understaffed receiving corp. The silver lining is that Dart was still able to move the chains and win a huge game against one of the NFL’s best teams.

Injuries at MetLife are a common thing

Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley suffered numerous ankle injuries playing on MetLife. However, this stadium is also infamous for hosting the game where Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in 2023.

Not only players that call MetLife home have suffered. Players like Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas tore their ACLs visiting the stadium as part of the San Francisco 49ers. The MetLife turf has been criticized for years now and nothing has changed.

According to the Giants’ official depth chart on their website, some of the wide receivers Jaxson Dart can rely on are veteran Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, and rookie Beaux Collins.

Slayton is arguably the most seasoned and reliable target, while Wan’Dale Robinson brings versatility and speed out of the slot. Meanwhile, rookie Beaux Collins now has a golden opportunity to prove himself at the professional level.

Joining this intriguing group of receivers are Jalin Hyatt and Gunner Olszewski, who may be slightly further down the depth chart when it comes to seeing action on the field. It’s worth noting that both Bryce Ford-Wheaton and Da’Quan Felton are currently unavailable due to injuries.

The Giants’ offense is facing increasing problems. Not only are injuries taking their toll, but it’s also worth noting that the head coach decided to bench Russell Wilson ahead of the game against the Chargers.

What happened to Nabers?

The New York Giants’ 21-18 win over the Chargers came at a massive cost, as star wide receiver Malik Nabers was carted off the field in the second quarter with a right knee injury. Early reports from NFL insiders confirm the worst fears, a torn ACL. The standout player will immediately out the season.

The non-contact nature of the injury and the immediate diagnosis are a devastating turn for the Giants’ offense.

“Giants star WR Malik Nabers does, in fact, have a torn ACL, the MRI at Hospital for Special Surgery confirmed. He’s out for the season,” the insider Ian Rapoport reported via @RapSheet.

The update came from Adam Schefter on X, who reported: “Giants WR Malik Nabers has an MRI on Monday morning to determine if he tore his right ACL as is now believed, per source.” The team is expected to announce after the exam how long Nabers could be out.

Nabers had already logged 16 receptions on 32 targets for 251 receiving yards, putting him on a good pace despite the Giants‘ 0-3 start. His individual season was widely expected to surpass last year’s performance.

What Happens If the Giants Lose Nabers?

The Giants’ overall situation won’t truly worsen until it’s confirmed whether Nabers will be sidelined for a long or short period. In the meantime, they can survive with Wan’Dale Robinson, who already has 223 receiving yards and one touchdown this season.

Is the MetLife Turf to Blame for Nabers’ Injury?

While it is not yet conclusive that the MetLife Stadium turf is to blame, the surface controversy quickly resurfaced. Giants’ StatMuse posted on X, saying, “We NEED the ownership to change the MetLife turf. Many players have gotten injured and now Malik Nabers and Joe Alt are the latest victim to the horrendous turf. We can’t let players keep getting hurt from this.”

Some fans are strongly advocating for real grass, but there is no definitive word on when MetLife might eliminate the turf. Given the multiple player injuries that have occurred on the field, some fans are quick to blame the artificial surface for every injury case.

A sweet Sunday turned sour for New York Giants fans. As the G-men were rejoicing looking at their rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart deliver against a very good defense like the Los Angeles Chargers, now it all turned grey as their best wide receiver, Malik Nabers, went down after a deep route.

Nabers ran a vertical route and tried to jump to make a grab. As soon as he jumped something looked wrong and then he couldn’t get back up. He held his right knee. It seems something happened at the time of the jump. Nabers had to be carted off and was quickly ruled out from the game vs. Chargers.

Nabers is by far and away the best receiver the team has as he is arguably a top 10 receiver in the NFL. This is really bad news for the Giants as they would miss a top-tier talent. Not only that, but the team wants to make the Dart-Nabers connection their core. Now, it’s in doubt until Nabers’ injury is revealed.

Nabers is only in his second season, which is also concerning. Non-contact injuries are usually more serious given the nature that those are body malfunctions instead of a hit-caused injury.

Nabers reports are concerning

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Nabers is feared to have torn his ACL, which would mean it’s a season-ending injury. The Giants will still need to make tests on the player but early reports couldn’t be worse.

The Giants are not precisely known for being loaded on the wide receiver department so without Nabers, there are no stars and the Giants will have to rely on role players, most likely.

Wandale Robinson is on the breakout watch now

If there is a guy who should be now in prime position to make his stock grow in the NFL is Wan’Dale Robinson. He already had a massive game this season in Week 2 against the Cowboys where he racked up eight catches for 142 yards and a touchdown.

His Week 3 output wasn’t great but now with Dart under center, a whole new window of opportunities presents itself to Robinson. Last season he ended with 699 yards in 93 grabs and three touchdowns.

The Giants have started the 2025 campaign on the wrong foot. Sitting at 0-3, the team has struggled to find consistency, and things don’t appear to be improving week to week.

For their fourth game of the season, the Giants welcome the undefeated Chargers to MetLife Stadium. However, Nabers’ availability was in doubt after he picked up a shoulder injury in Week 3.

Is Malik Nabers playing today for Giants vs. Chargers?

During the Week 3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Malik Nabers suffered a shoulder injury that limited his playtime. This raised concerns about whether he would be able to suit up against Los Angeles.

Nabers sat out Wednesday’s practice due to the injury, but fortunately, he was cleared to play in Week 4. Head coach Brian Daboll confirmed that the rookie wide receiver has recovered and will be available for Sunday’s matchup.

This game is crucial for the Giants, who desperately want to avoid an 0-4 start. Still, the task won’t be easy against a Chargers squad that has yet to lose and looks like a serious AFC West contender.

Is Malik Nabers a good Fantasy Football start in Week 4?

Even though Malik Nabers is clearly the Giants’ top offensive weapon, his Week 4 outlook in Fantasy Football is uncertain.

Not only will he face a strong Chargers defense, but he will also be catching passes from a new quarterback. Jaxson Dart is set to make his first career start, and the chemistry between him and Nabers remains untested.

Wilson’s starting role was never guaranteed, as head coach Brian Daboll gave the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback the opportunity to start, making it clear that competition for the position would be fierce.

Dart will now be the new quarterback tasked with turning the Giants’ turbulent start around. Amid the positional changes around him, Nabers remains an essential part of New York’s offense heading into the next game.

Nabers’ opinion on the QB changes

“Process is, I’ve got a job to do. My job is to run routes, catch the ball no matter who’s throwing me the football. Like I said, the decision wasn’t up to me. Like I said, I’ve still got a job to do, go play football,” wide receiver Nabers said, according to a transcript from the team’s official website.

Nabers emphasized that, even though the quarterback change is not in his hands, his focus remains the same: to perform his role on the field. He also noted that all the quarterbacks who have played for the Giants share the intention of getting him involved in the game.

Will Nabers play in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season?

Nabers has not been at his best physically over the past week. A shoulder injury kept him out of Wednesday’s practice, but the young wide receiver expressed optimism about participating in the upcoming Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Following his team’s loss to the Commanders, the explosive wide receiver spoke to the media and addressed the reasons behind the uncomfortable situation on the visiting bench.

“I mean, I said I was going to speak up, when it was time for me to speak up, but just trying to get guys going, trying to get everything going,” Nabers said, via a transcript from the team.

“I felt like we were lacking out there. The energy wasn’t right. So, I took it upon myself to try to boost people up. It’s two competitive people going at it. He wants to win; I want to win. I feel like that’s the reason he got me over here is because of how me and him are just alike. So, it was two people just going at it, we trying to get the same outcome.”

Daboll’s perspective

It’s clear that the Giants’ debut in this new NFL season didn’t go as expected. While the matchup against the Commanders on the road was always going to be a tough test, the team’s performance fell well short of what head coach Brian Daboll had hoped for.

As a way to ease tensions and downplay the sideline incident with Nabers, the head coach made it clear that it was simply an in-game moment and that everything was resolved then and there.

“Two competitive people understanding that where we are at right now, or offensively, is not where we want to be,” Daboll stated to the press.

Trouble for Wilson in his debut

The much-anticipated New York Giants debut of veteran quarterback Russell Wilson fell flat on Sunday, as the team’s offense sputtered in a lopsided loss to the Washington Commanders.

The Giants’ new signal-caller struggled to find a rhythm, with his performance doing little to inspire confidence among the fan base. Wilson went 17 of 37 with no TDs in Giants debut, leading an offense that was held to just two field goals and a total of 231 yards.

The former Super Bowl champion was under constant pressure from the Washington defensive front, and the Giants‘ offensive line appeared unable to protect him. This disappointing start has already raised questions about Wilson’s long-term future as the team’s starter and whether the Giants may look to rookie Jaxson Dart sooner rather than later.

ESPN posted a shot of the Giants receiver on Instagram with the caption: “Nabers was visibly frustrated on the sideline before coach Brian Daboll talked to him coming back onto the field.” The details of their conversation remain unknown.

Henry McKenna of Fox Sports noted that during an exchange between Nabers and Daboll, the head coach appeared to be giving instructions on the field. Daboll tried to give the receiver a high five, but his player seemed to decline the gesture. The head coach then patted him on the chest and leaned in toward his helmet to say something.

Good Game for Nabers

Despite his frustration, Malik Nabers had a good game. By the fourth quarter, he had over 70 receiving yards and a 14.2 average yards per reception, making him the best of all the wide receivers in the game. His longest reception was an impressive 25 yards.

Behind Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson finished with 55 yards on six of eight receptions. Neither of them nor any of their other teammates scored a touchdown. The team’s only six points in the loss to the Commanders came from kicker Graham Gano’s two field goals.

Daboll Will Have to Make Adjustments

Brian Daboll will have to make obvious adjustments to the defense. Despite Jayden Daniels being sacked three times for a loss of 21 yards during the game, it was not enough. The head coach will likely have a serious discussion with the defensive line coordinator.