New York Giants star wide receiver Malik Nabers took a major step in his recovery from the torn ACL suffered last season, participating in team drills at full speed for the first time on Monday. He took part in both 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 sessions, albeit with limited reps — still a good sign for the Giants' most explosive offensive weapon, who appears well on his way to being ready for Week 1. Nabers spoke with reporters after practice about what his return meant to him.
"It was good, felt good to get some team reps. Getting out there, catching the football," Nabers said. "My soul's been dead for so long just being away from the game, so just getting out there and having my teammates behind me, you know, kind of felt that soul come back to life." More news: Falcons Get Michael Penix Jr Update as Tua Tagovailoa’s Debut Raises Questions Nabers tore his right ACL and suffered structural damage to his meniscus in a severe knee injury during Week 4 of the 2025 season.
That puts him at just under 11 months removed from the injury, and it will be closer to a full year by the time the regular season opens. ACL tears can take time to fully overcome, especially for athletes like Nabers, whose game relies heavily on explosiveness. Still, he remains one of the premier wide receivers in the NFL.
During his 2024 rookie season, Nabers hauled in 109 catches on 170 targets for 1,204 yards (seventh-most in the NFL) and seven touchdowns, averaging 11.0 yards per catch and earning Pro Bowl honors. Even in his first four games last season before the injury, he posted 271 yards and two touchdowns on 18 catches (35 targets) — a pace that would have projected to roughly 1,100-plus yards, eight-plus touchdowns, and 80-plus catches over a full season. More news: Jets Rookie Suffers Brutal Setback After Strong Preseason Debut More news: Bills’ Josh Allen-DJ Moore Connection Shines in Preseason Win Over Panthers He's proven himself a true WR1, and the Giants haven't even seen a full season of him paired with quarterback Jaxson Dart yet.
With more weapons on the outside now, including Calvin Austin III, Darnell Mooney, and rookie Malachi Fields, some pressure could shift off Nabers, potentially opening up the game even more for him. Week 1 is starting to look more and more like a real possibility for Nabers' return. And if he's back to full strength, he could be in line for his best season yet.
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