Giants’ Harbaugh: ‘Reasonable to assume’ Nabers will play opener

New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers practiced without the no-contact red jersey and participated in live team drills Monday for the first time since suffering a torn ACL.

Although John Harbaugh said that he can’t guarantee that Nabers will play in Week 1, the Giants head coach acknowledged that it’s “reasonable to assume” that New York will have its top pass-catcher available for the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13.

“It’s reasonable to assume that,” Harbaugh said about Nabers playing Week 1, according to SNY. “Those are all kind of things you can assume based on watching the guy practice. But the only thing I know more than you guys know is what the doctors and trainers tell me as far as his rehab. And that is he’s doing well. He’s doing well with that. He’s strong, in a good place.”

Nabers had knee surgery after suffering an injury in September 2025. He also underwent a second knee procedure to remove scar tissue that caused stiffness during the offseason.

The 23-year-old gradually made his return to the practice field this year. He’s expected to practice in full pads with a limited workload Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

“I thought he looked good,” Harbaugh said of Monday’s practice. “(I’ll) look at the tape later, but he was moving well. Probably moving the best we’ve seen him look. … It was a good practice for him today. He got the red shirt off. That was a good step.”

Nabers – a first-round pick in 2024 – put on a show as a rookie, catching 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games. However, the former LSU star was limited to only four appearances during his sophomore campaign.

Nabers headlines a wide receiver depth chart with several veterans, including Odell Beckham Jr., Calvin Austin, and Darnell Mooney, among others. The Giants also drafted wideout Malachi Fields in the third round in April.

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