New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen is optimistic that wide receiver Malik Nabers will be good to go for the team's season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13.
"I still think he'll be fine Week 1," Schoen told Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein. "So we'll see. He's trending in the right direction. Again, these things take time, so it's not instant. Every patient is different."
Nabers suffered a torn ACL last September, ending his season after just four games. He also underwent a follow-up procedure in April to remove scar tissue from the damaged knee.
The 22-year-old has yet to practice during the Giants' offseason program. New York has held OTA sessions throughout the end of May and into early June, and Wednesday is the team's final day of mandatory minicamp.
However, Nabers stepped in to play dodgeball at a charity event run by teammate Brian Burns at the end of May.
Malik Nabers jumped in to play a little https://t.co/1rWiGdAEvk pic.twitter.com/q2ORyOIPoD
— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) May 30, 2026
Schoen and the Giants' front office made several additions to its wide receiver room this offseason, including bringing back Odell Beckham Jr, who was one of the league's best pass-catchers while with New York from 2014-18.
The Giants also signed Darnell Mooney to a one-year, $10-million deal in free agency, as well as added JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios, and Calvin Austin.
"Do we have that true No. 1 alpha 22-year-old Malik Nabers out there if he's not available? No, but I think there's enough to go," Schoen said.
"There's going to be a good competition at receiver throughout camp, but there's enough for me from the backfield, the tight end position, there's enough at receiver where we'll be able to move the ball and still be a productive offense - and it'll be a cherry on top if Malik's out there."
Nabers took the NFL by storm in 2024 when he recorded 109 receptions on 170 targets for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie.
