New York Giants star receiver Malik Nabers isn’t willing to say he’ll be ready for Week 1 of the 2026 season.
The Giants open the season on Sept. 13 at home against the Dallas Cowboys on the “Sunday Night Football” stage. There is very little chance Nabers wants to be watching from the sidelines that night, some 11 1/2 months after his major knee injury.
But on Thursday, the second day of training camp, there was no need for Nabers to make any declarations on something six-plus weeks away.
“There’s no target date,” Nabers said of his return from a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee. “Just stacking days. I’ll continue to let everybody know how I feel and when I’m able to get back out there.”
Nabers did more work the first two days of training camp than expected. That fact created optimism that Nabers is on track for the season opener.
And while Nabers is also optimistic, he doesn’t want to push things too fast too soon.
“My mindset is just stacking days,” Nabers said during his first media availability of training camp at White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. “Trying to get back out there with my teammates, so if I can just keep on stacking days with the training staff and continue to see improvements on my body, continue to see improvements on my knee and where I’m at. It gives me more confidence to go out there and be able to play.”
Nabers saw action in just four games last season when he had 18 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns. He injured the knee against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 28 and underwent surgery exactly one month later.
Nabers, who turned 23 on Tuesday, was an immediate star as a rookie when he caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games. He earned Pro Bowl honors.
Nabers insisted his rookie campaign wasn’t all that impressive. He vows to be better than he was in that standout 2024 season.
“What I was before, what you all saw my rookie year, I felt like that was basic,” Nabers said. “I got high standards for myself. I know everybody has high standards for me also. But the standard that I hold myself to is very high. I feel like whatever that standard that I hold myself to, you’ll see or sooner or later.”
Nabers said the mental game that comes with rehabbing a serious injury did bring some challenges. He said he kept focusing on seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
“This is my first time I’ve had have a mental battle,” Nabers said. “I would say just keeping friends and family close. People that know exactly how they see you in the near future or what they see and how you attack things. I think just having positive people around you, that helps in this long-term battle.
“You can definitely get lost in your own mind. You never know when you’re going to be able to do something. I got stuck in that also, just dealing with this rehab, just long-term, just doing a lot of stuff and not seeing improvements.”
Nabers’ teammates have been happy to see him running around the field this week.
“I’m so excited to see him back out there,” standout left tackle Andrew Thomas said Thursday. “Obviously, he’s a very talented player. Overcoming an injury is not easy. I think, if anything, it’s just for his mental (stability) to be back out here with the guys and running around, catching the ball. I’m excited to see him play this year.”
