Having Nabers on the field for some snaps, with breaks in between, is far better than not having him at all—despite the obvious risk that comes with it—and that appears to be the Giants‘ preferred approach for now. Still, a lot can happen before the NFL season begins.

“It is hard — barring a setback — not to envision [Nabers] suiting up to open the 2026 season. He might be on a snap count,” Connor Hughes reported on SportsNet New York. “But even a limited Nabers would be a good thing for the Giants.”

Nabers is doing well during Giants’ training camp

So far, so good, however. Nabers has responded well to the gradual ramp-up in his workouts, and John Harbaugh was reassuring in his message after Nabers’ first absence from training camp—which was predetermined.

Thus, barring any setbacks, Nabers should be good to go against Dallas at home. But even if that’s the case, the G-Men may be extra cautious. After all, the season is long.

If New York wants to have any shot at a deep postseason run in Harbaugh’s first year in town, having Nabers contribute late in the season is paramount. If Nabers isn’t at 100 percent, it may not be wise to start him right from the get-go. Using him in a limited role, however, could be the better approach, and Nabers may not give the coaching staff much choice but to put send him onto the gridiron. At the very least, on a snap count.

Nabers is crucial to NY Giants’ success

The Giants did a good job making much-needed additions to their wide receiver room. Although Odell Beckham Jr. has yet to earn a spot on the 53-man roster and Braxton Berrios is impressing the Giants at training camp, there aren’t many certainties about what the G-Men’s receiving corps will look like by Week 1. One thing is clear, though: they have alternatives, yet no one quite like Nabers.

The third-year wide receiver possesses a skill set unlike any other in East Rutherford—one that could place him among the NFL’s elite if he can stay healthy. He proved himself during his rookie year, was forced to miss most of his sophomore campaign, and will surely come into Year 3 with a chip on his shoulder.

NY Giants’ revamped offense

With Harbaugh at the helm, Matt Nagy calling the shots, and Jaxson Dart operating in the pocket, it could all lead to a sensational season for the former LSU standout. If Nabers balls out, that opens up the floodgates for the rest of the wide receivers to take advantage of defenses that must account for the No. 1 receiver.

All in all, if the G-Men play their cards right, they could be in for a monstrous season—one that should be a lot of fun to watch.

“He’s fine,” Harbaugh said via Jordan Raanan on X. He also made it clear that his absence is “part of the process.” The Giants want to take a cautious approach with one of their best receivers.

Nabers does not know if he will be ready for Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, but he remains hopeful. Still, everyone in East Rutherford understands that there is no need to rush the process, especially when it comes to recovering from a delicate injury.

A connection that excites

Malik Nabers praised Jaxson Dart’s leadership, sparking excitement around the Giants. Many have already begun imagining what this offensive duo could bring to the team in the upcoming NFL season.

Dart enters his second season with much more maturity, but he cannot afford to slow down. The good news for him is that Braxton Berrios has been making a strong impression during training camp, meaning his passing attack will eventually have several options to rely on.

What injury did Nabers suffer?

During Week 4 of the 2025 season, Malik Nabers suffered a season-ending torn ACL and lateral meniscus in his knee against the Los Angeles Chargers at MetLife Stadium. Following surgery in October 2025 and a minor follow-up procedure to clear scar tissue in May 2026, Nabers faced a lengthy, rigorous rehabilitation process.

However, he made a major milestone in late July 2026 by returning to the practice field at Giants training camp on a limited basis. While both Nabers and the medical staff are taking a patient, “day-by-day” approach without setting a strict target date, he continues to make steady progress as he aims to make a full return for the 2026 season.

Harbaugh’s weapons through the air

The New York Giants and John Harbaugh have, in many ways, one of the most talented receiving corps in the NFC. The question now is whether they can prove it once they step onto the field in Week 1.

The first challenges for New York

• Week 1, vs Dallas Cowboys
• Week 2, at Los Angeles Rams
• Week 3, vs Tennessee Titans
• Week 4, vs Arizona Cardinals
• Week 5, at Washington Commanders

One of the biggest positive developments came before camp even opened, when the Giants decided not to place Nabers on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. That decision immediately suggested the organization believed he was close enough to recovery to participate in football activities, even if on a limited basis.

Since then, Nabers has been seen working on the practice field, fueling optimism that he could be ready sooner than expected. Still, with the regular season approaching, the biggest question remains whether he will be available for the Giants’ Week 1 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Will Malik Nabers be ready for Week 1?

Asked directly whether he expects to play against Dallas in the season opener, Malik Nabers declined to make any guarantees. Instead, he emphasized that his focus remains on taking his recovery one day at a time. “There’s no target date. Just stacking days and I’ll continue to let everybody know how I feel and when I’m able to get back out there.”

Why Malik Nabers’ return is so important

The Giants are entering a new era under head coach John Harbaugh, with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart expected to lead an improved offense. For that transition to succeed, New York will need their biggest offensive playmaker on the field.

Nabers is widely viewed as the focal point of the passing game, and his chemistry with Dart could become one of the defining storylines of the 2026 season.

While avoiding the PUP list was an encouraging first step, Nabers made it clear that the Giants will continue prioritizing his long-term health over rushing him back for Week 1. For now, they remain hopeful, but there is still no official timetable for his return.

“I’ve just seen [Dart] be that leader that we need. That person in the locker room that gets everybody going, and picking guys up. He’s picked me up through this process also,” Nabers admitted to reporters after Day 2 of training camp. “He can read people really well, he reads me. I have great talks to him. [Jaxson] is always pushing me to be better, pushing me to get me back to where I once was. We can be great together.”

In his dialogue with reporters, Nabers shined the light on how challenging his journey has been as he recovered from a torn ACL and meniscus. Nabers admitted Dart has played a big role in helping him get through the daily grind.

As the 2026 NFL season looms on the horizon, and the Giants already ramp up Nabers’ workload, the wideout made it clear he wasn’t alone through it all, and his quarterback was very important. However, Dart wasn’t the only teammate Nabers had great praise for.

Nabers on Odell

Although the Giants have reportedly made Odell Beckham Jr. no guarantees about a roster spot, the iconic wide receiver is arguably the biggest offseason signing the franchise made this year—and in a while. As the 33-year-old settles into a very different locker room from the one he knew during his first stint in New York, Nabers had nothing but praise for Beckham Jr.

“[Beckham Jr] is a great role model and leader. He’s always feeding me good energy. It’s good having him around. It is surreal. I’m just taking every moment in,” Nabers said on being teammates with Beckham Jr.

Nabers and Beckham Jr are alike

There are many similarities between Nabers and Beckham Jr., and not just because both arrived in New York fresh off incredible college careers at LSU—prompting fans to compare Malik to Odell long before OBJ returned to East Rutherford.

As Nabers pointed out, Beckham Jr. suffered a similar injury in the NFL, so the veteran has been counseling the third-year wide receiver during their first weeks together. There’s a lot Nabers can learn from Beckham Jr., and vice versa, which leaves the Giants in a great position.

If the two wide receivers can feed off each other while helping the rest of the WR group and the team—and if Dart is in sync with them as well—then the sky is the limit for Big Blue.

All the signs surrounding Nabers are pointing in an encouraging direction. According to reports—and the fact he wasn’t placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list—Nabers is on track to start in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.

For the time being, though, he is being cautious. He admitted there is no target date for his return to action. Regardless, on Day 2 of the Giants’ training camp at The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia, he already spent more time on the field than he did on opening day.

“[Nabers] participated for only 20 minutes [on Day 1]. We’re just over 30 minutes into practice today and he’s still out there running routes on air with the rest of the offense,” as reported by Talkin’ Giants on X.

Nabers’ journey

Perhaps his extended time on the gridiron had something to do with training camp’s second practice being open to fans. Many traveled long distances to be in West Virginia, and the Giants, along with John Harbaugh’s coaching staff, weren’t about to send Nabers out for a few plays and then completely shut him down.

Still, if they had any real concerns about the wide receiver’s health, they would have done exactly that. If Nabers was able to practice without restrictions, it’s because he has done everything right in his recovery from the torn ACL and meniscus.

Work in progress

New York won’t take any risks when it comes to Nabers, and he won’t be asked to do anything if his surgically repaired knee isn’t ready for it. It’s still early, and the pads have yet to come on, but things are looking good for Nabers.

That said, it’s not time to pop champagne bottles. There is still plenty of work left and a steep climb ahead of him. Even so, the fact that he’s seemingly cruising through his first sessions is an encouraging sign. If he weren’t, then Big Blue would have real reason to worry.

“Practice ended a bit ago, but Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers getting in some time having a catch. No routes. Just QB throwing to WR,” Connor Hughes of SNY reported on his X account.

It may not sound like much, but it’s a really encouraging sign for the Giants. New York is heading into the 2026 NFL season with sky-high expectations for its star quarterback and wide receiver duo. While the Giants took a chance with Dart’s new weapon, tight end Tyler Moore, it’s clear the wideout from LSU is still the top receiving threat in East Rutherford.

Nabers and Dart’s only game together

As talented as both players are, and despite everything that’s been said about New York’s star duo, Dart and Nabers have barely played together. In fact, they have shared the field only once, and that came in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season.

In the same game in which Dart led the Giants to a statement win over the Los Angeles Chargers, Nabers suffered the season-ending injury that cut his campaign short. In that game, Dart connected with Nabers just twice for a total of 20 yards. Dart trusts Nabers, and fans need look no further than the fact that the first three pass attempts of Dart’s NFL career were all intended for Nabers.

Clearly, their sample size remains too small. Every extra rep and minute counts, and the two SEC products know that getting to know each other better, both on and off the field, may prove crucial once the season begins.

Nabers’ health concerns

As things stand, Nabers is on track to start in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. If that’s the case, both Nabers and Dart want to make sure their chemistry is off the charts by Sept. 13.

Still, the coaching and medical staffs are taking things slowly and with caution. In Nabers’ first full practice since tearing his ACL and meniscus in his right knee, Hughes reported that the wide receiver looked good, although still “a bit timid,” likely lacking some confidence in just how much force and speed to put on his right leg.

It has been a very long journey since the season-ending injury, so that was a likely scenario. There is still a long way to go before the season begins, which means there’s plenty of time left in the hourglass for Nabers to get more comfortable with his surgically repaired knee, as well as continue building chemistry with his franchise quarterback.

Nabers can now gradually practice with his teammates under the coaching staff’s supervision. If he continues to progress as he has so far, there is little reason to be concerned about him missing the Giants‘ home opener against their NFC East rivals, the Cowboys.

“It will be a gradual process for Nabers and, barring any setbacks, it’s fair to be optimistic that he’ll be in the lineup against the Cowboys,” as reported by Dan Duggan on The Athletic. “The Giants are hoping Nabers’ earlier start to practice this summer has him ready for Week 1.”

NY Giants’ probable offense

Should Nabers be cleared to play from the outset of the 2026 NFL season, John Harbaugh could have an exciting offense at his disposal when the Giants take on the Cowboys at home. In addition to Nabers, Cam Skattebo’s health will be another storyline to monitor, but if both are available, Jaxson Dart will have the opportunity to pick up right where he left off.

Provided everyone stays healthy, the Giants’ offensive skill-position starters could be: Dart at quarterback, Skattebo at running back, Nabers as the primary wide receiver, followed by Darius Slayton and Calvin Austin III, with Isaiah Likely at tight end.

Considering Harbaugh’s style, the team could also lean on 12 personnel, taking a wide receiver off the field and pairing Theo Johnson with Likely at tight end.

Nabers’ medical history

Nabers has been out since tearing the ACL and meniscus in his right knee last season. The injury cut his sophomore NFL campaign short in just Week 4. Since then, Nabers’ recovery has been slow, and the road has been filled with hurdles.

During the offseason, a “clean-up” surgery to remove scar tissue raised alarms in East Rutherford, as the health concerns surrounding New York’s top receiving option suffered another setback in his expected recovery timeline.

Long time away for Nabers

Still, the NFL offseason is longer than that of any other major North American sport. That extra time has proven beneficial for both the Giants and Nabers. Even now, with training camp set to begin, the G-Men can afford to remain patient with their No. 1 wide receiver, as there is still time before the hourglass runs out and the season opens with a pivotal divisional clash against America’s Team.

How Nabers will look once he returns to the field after such a long layoff remains to be seen, but New York’s coaching and medical staffs are optimistic, while also being careful not to rush their best playmaker back. Even though it has been 10 months since the season-ending injury at MetLife Stadium, the Giants have no intention of taking unnecessary risks with Nabers.

Jordan Raanan of ESPN said, “When and how he returns will be contingent on the progress he makes throughout the summer. As a result, all eyes will be on Nabers, who is expected to avoid the physically unable to perform list. When he runs, how he runs and when he can practice will be deduced based off his every move.”

This can be seen as a real positive for the Giants. If they saw Nabers wasn’t able to go soon enough, they would’ve placed him on the Physically Unable to Perform list. While he is still recovering, Nabers might be very close to be back at a 100%.

Nabers should be the undoubted WR1 of the Giants

John Harbaugh is trying to absolutely reshape the New York Giants franchise. Nabers is a key component to that process. The Giants have names like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin III, and Odell Beckham Jr., but Nabers is by far and away the most talented out of them all.

During his 19 games in the NFL, Nabers has 127 catches on 205 targets for 1,475 yards and nine touchdowns. He was a game-changer every time he was on the field, and Harbaugh is counting on him to be that once he is back.

NY Giants offensive core

The New York Giants have a very young offensive core. John Harbaugh will have to make the offense revolve around them, but the future is certainly bright for the G-Men.

• QB – Jaxson Dart (23 years old)
• RB – Cam Skattebo (24 years old)
• WR – Malik Nabers (22 years old)
• TE – Isaiah Likely (26 years old)

With training camp set to ramp up, much of the attention had centered on the status of Malik Nabers, who missed portions of the team’s offseason program and generated concern about his availability for camp.

The good news for Giants fans is that Nabers was not included on the initial PUP list, a strong indication that the team’s top offensive weapon is expected to participate in camp.

Is Malik Nabers on Giants PUP list?

No. The Giants confirmed that the following three players will begin training camp on the PUP list: TE Thomas Fidone, DL Sam Roberts and DL Roy Robertson-Harris. Players on the PUP list can return once they are medically cleared, but they will not participate in on-field activities until then.

Of course, the biggest takeaway from the announcement is that Malik Nabers is not on the PUP list. After missing the spring program recovering from a knee injury, there had been speculation that the Pro Bowl wide receiver could open training camp sidelined. Instead, the Giants chose not to place him on the list.

Veteran receiver Darius Slayton, who also missed time during the offseason, likewise avoided the PUP designation. While their workloads could still be managed during the early days of camp, both players are expected to be available as the Giants begin preparations for the 2026 NFL season.

For New York, having Nabers on the practice field could be a significant boost, as the star wide receiver is expected to be the focal point of the offense and one of the franchise’s most important players entering the new campaign.

Nabers remains one of the most important players on the roster and a centerpiece of Jaxson Dart’s offense. Because of that, every update regarding his rehab process has drawn significant attention from fans hoping to see him ready for the start of the 2026 season.

Fortunately for the Giants, head coach John Harbaugh sounded optimistic when discussing Nabers’ progress and commitment to his recovery. Finally, something positive in a very uncertain process.

When will Malik Nabers return?

John Harbaugh emphasized that Malik Nabers is fully invested in the rehab process and continues to make encouraging progress as he works toward a return.

“He’s doing everything he can. He said he plans to be here most of the time. Almost all the time, he’ll be here. He’s going to be here a lot working really hard. He’s making really good progress right now. So, I’m very hopeful that he’ll be back soon. He’ll be back, but then still be building his way back to his ultimate full-strength self. He’s doing great.”

The update suggests the Giants remain confident that Nabers will be back on the field in the near future. At the same time, Harbaugh acknowledged that returning to action and returning to peak form are two different milestones.

However, many reports have pointed out that Week 1 is becoming an unrealistic target for the player. That’s why, surprisingly, many names were signed to bring depth to the position. Odell Beckham Jr., Braxton Berrios and JuJu Smith- Schuster are all hints that Nabers might not be ready.

For a Giants offense expected to be led by quarterback Jaxson Dart, having both players available early in the season would be a massive boost. However, questions remain about whether either player will be fully recovered when the regular season begins.

According to Giants insider Dan Duggan, the situation is more encouraging for Skattebo than it is for Nabers, though concerns remain about both players’ ability to quickly return to peak form.

Will Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo be ready for Week 1?

Duggan expressed skepticism that Malik Nabers will be fully ready for the season opener, noting that the bigger concern may not be the exact date of his return but rather how long it takes him to regain his dominant form.

“It certainly would be better if two of their top offensive players were not coming off major injuries. If I had to set an over/under on Nabers being ready for Week 1, I’d take the over. This is just my hunch based on how his rehab has progressed and not based on reporting. The bigger question isn’t the exact week Nabers returns; it’s how long until he returns to being unstoppable like he has been at times during his young career.”

The outlook appears more optimistic for Skattebo. Duggan noted that the running back’s recovery has generally been viewed as less complicated, making it a surprise if he is not available for Week 1. Still, there are legitimate questions about whether he will immediately regain the explosiveness that made him such an intriguing prospect.

“The word has always been that Skattebo faced an ‘easier’ rehab than Nabers. The dislocation was immediately reset, and the broken fibula healed long ago. The torn ligament in his ankle likely took the longest to heal. It would be a surprise if Skattebo isn’t ready for Week 1, but like with Nabers, the question is if the running back will be as explosive when he returns. Skattebo wasn’t the fastest running back before the injury, so he can’t afford to lose a half step.”