​There’s been ongoing discussion about the status of New York Giants star wide receiver Malik Nabers, who is currently rehabbing from a complex knee injury he suffered in Week 4 of last season. Nabers tore both the ACL and the lateral meniscus in his right knee last October and was sidelined for the remainder of the year. He underwent surgery soon after the injury and then had a second procedure this spring to address some scar tissue. ESPN beat reporter Jordan Raanan recently indicated Nabers might not return to a superstar level until Week 5 or 6. “They don’t know, nobody knows. It’s a wait-and-see,” Raanan said on the John Keim Report. “Even when he does come back, we have to remember he’s coming back from a serious injury. So, is he going to be himself right away? That’s a lot to ask, right?” He added, “There aren’t many scenarios where I look at it and say ‘Malik Nabers is going to be back and playing as a No. 1 superstar receiver’ by [Week 5 or 6]. Maybe that’s about the time we can expect him to start coming around if he begins practicing in early September; it’s a big wait-and-see.” Nabers is the Giants’ best wide receiver, and the offense would miss his elite skills if he starts slowly or, worse, begins the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Considering Nabers played less than a full game with quarterback Jaxson Dart last season, it’s unclear how well he and Dart will sync. We may have to wait a bit longer to get a definitive answer on that connection. In the meantime, a variety of passing-game strategies could unfold. Some observers might assume the Giants have few viable options, but that would be a mistake. One approach would be to deploy a larger formation with two tight ends—6-foot-6 Theo Johnson and 6-foot-4 Isaiah Likely—alongside tall receivers Isaiah Hodgins and rookie Malachi Fields, both standing 6-foot-4. That lineup would force opposing secondaries to contend with mismatches and backpedaling. It’s easy to reminisce about past Giants formations with Jeremy Shockey, Kevin Boss, Amani Toomer, and Plaxico Burress, while Brandon Jacobs supplied a powerful presence out of the backfield.
Another possible plan would involve rotating in Darius Slayton and JuJu Smith-Schuster, both around 6-foot-1, to complement the bigger bodies on the field. A robust running game could flourish with so many tall targets on the field, creating opportunities for play-action and mismatches in the fourth quarter. There’s also the option of deploying Odell Beckham Jr. in some packages. Beckham may not be the same elite player he once was, but defenses still respect him. To many, he remains OBJ, and teams would not want to risk getting burned by his presence, which could draw attention away from the other receivers and open up opportunities elsewhere on the field. General manager Joe Schoen has done a commendable job assembling veterans with diverse skill sets, enabling the Giants to stretch the field with players like Slayton, Darnell Mooney, and Calvin Austin III, and to use their running backs as receivers.
These are all intriguing options that don’t rely on Nabers being fully healthy right away. Nabers’ rehab can proceed without the pressure of performing immediately, while the team experiments with several complementary configurations to maximize offense. The coming weeks will likely reveal how the Giants balance Nabers’ return with the rest of the receiving corps and how the quarterback-receiver dynamic evolves as Nabers works his way back. The depth and versatility across the roster give head coach and offensive coordinator room to adapt, even if Nabers isn’t back to his peak form at the outset. As the season approaches, the Giants’ plans will depend on Nabers’ progress, the health of other receivers, and how defenses respond to the evolving lineup.