John Harbaugh says it is 'reasonable to assume' Malik Nabers will be available for Giants in Week 1 vs Cowboys
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh said Monday it is 'reasonable to assume' wide receiver Malik Nabers will be available for the team's season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, as the 2024 first-round pick continues his recovery from a torn ACL.
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh said Monday it is "reasonable to assume" wide receiver Malik Nabers will be available for the team's Week 1 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, offering the strongest signal yet that the 2024 first-round pick has recovered from the knee injury that cut short his rookie season.
Nabers practiced Monday without the red non-contact jersey, taking part in 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills alongside his fellow receivers. Harbaugh told reporters the LSU product is "probably moving the best we've seen him look" since tearing his right ACL and suffering meniscus damage in Week 4 of last season. The coach added that he would be comfortable seeing Nabers go through "very reasonable" contact with defenders during practice as he builds toward the regular season.
"Those are all kind of things that you can assume," Harbaugh said when asked about Nabers' Week 1 availability. "It's just based on watching the guy practice. The only thing I know more than you guys know is what the docs and the trainers tell me, as far as his rehab. And that's doing well. He's doing really well with that. He's strong. He's in a good place."
Nabers has been spotted wearing the red non-contact uniform for much of training camp, but his transition to a regular jersey Monday aligns with what Harbaugh said he had planned for the team's top pass-catching option. The coach noted he did not want Nabers to go from no contact to full speed at the start of the season, preferring a gradual ramp-up during practice.
Nabers himself has been vocal about his eagerness to return. He said last week that "my soul has been dead for so long," describing how badly he has wanted to get back on the field. He also noted the "dog" in him is starting to wake up, and he has been trending upward since the first training camp practice, where he surprised fans with how well he moved in and out of his routes.
It should not be expected that Nabers gets playing time in the Giants' final preseason game against the New York Jets this week. The teams will not hold joint practices either, so Nabers' preparation for Week 1 will continue against his own teammates. But the build is there, and the receiver continues to check boxes for his new head coach.
"I thought he looked good. Look at the tape later, but he was moving well. It was a good practice for him today," Harbaugh said.
Nabers and quarterback Jaxson Dart have developed chemistry during camp, but the Giants' 2025 draft choice out of Ole Miss only had one quarter with Nabers during his first career start before the devastating knee injury. Fans are eager to see what Dart, who had 24 total touchdowns in 14 games last season, and Nabers, who recorded 1,204 yards in 15 games as a rookie in 2024, can do across a full 17-game slate.
The Giants will host the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 13 in a primetime matchup scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET.
