The New York Giants have a superstar receiver in their midst. And once again, they are scared for the shoe to drop, for the news to be confirmed that, like Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr. before him, Malik Nabers won't quite live up to his potential.
After Year 1, the one thing threatening Nabers is his health. He trailed only receiver Ja'Marr Chase in targets despite missing two games. With arguably the worst quarterbacking in the league, he generated 1,204 yards and seven scores.
In 2024, Nabers suffered a concussion. Before he stepped foot in the NFL, though, he had dealt with a toe issue; one that has lingered into his second professional season. Nabers has not yet gotten surgery, and it's unclear just how much (if at all) it will limit him going forward.
Nabers touches base at training camp
On Wednesday, the Giants had their first open training camp day of the summer, and their star receiver spoke to the media about his health heading into his second season.
When asked about getting surgery to fix the issue, Nabers suggested that it wasn't currently on the table, but remained open-minded to the team's discretion.
"That's not up in the air but decisions will be made when the time is made," he said, via Connor Hughes. "Right now, I'm just focusing on locking in, getting ready for the season, being out there with my guys. It felt good to get out there and run around."
Expectations are higher than ever now that Nabers has added credence to his top-10-pick pedigree. After his standout rookie season, he's established himself as a star. With improved quarterback play, Nabers is primed to explode.
MORE: Jaxson Dart has horrendous first pass at Giants training camp
Russell Wilson offers an easy upgrade over last season's quartet of Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, and Tim Boyle. First-round rookie Jaxson Dart is far more talented than Jones and may see playing time down the stretch if things break right, allowing Nabers to foster a long-term connection with his battery mate. If Wilson goes down before Dart is ready, veteran Jameis Winston all but promises to make Nabers one of the most productive receivers in the sport.
New York is expected to attack downfield far more than it did in recent seasons. Wilson's patented "moonballs" continue to run hot, and Winston is known as one of the league's most aggressive passers. The Giants' efficiency downfield is to be determined, but their intent is inarguable.
There will be more opportunities for Nabers to make big plays in 2025. But he must stay on the field to capitalize on them.
"There's been talk about [a surgery]," he admitted. "It just never really came to a complete thought in mind for me to do it, but I've been managing it well, been running around pretty good. Everything has been going good with the rehab, so my toe is feeling better. I'm just happy to be out there with my guys now."
His comments bode well for the New York faithful who are eagerly awaiting another dominant season. With a rather average receiving corps behind him, Nabers' ability to make plays at every level of the field is bound to be the biggest part of head coach Brian Daboll's offense.
At this point, it seems unlikely that Nabers will get surgery, and barring any further injury, there's no reason to worry about his status for Week 1. As for whether Nabers is worried about his toe truly getting back to full health, he was less certain.
"Not sure," he told reporters. "Time will tell."
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