When it comes to the New York Giants and injury news, fans are usually bracing for the absolute worst. The franchise has been plagued by brutal injury luck in recent seasons. The fanbase is now conditioned to expect catastrophic diagnoses whenever an update comes out.
Those anxieties hit a fever pitch last season when electric second-year wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a devastating ACL and meniscus injury, followed by an unnerving clean-up procedure that felt like they were trying to keep it quiet.
Nabers only played four games, but he still managed to show what makes him special with 18 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns before going down. Not long after, rookie running back Cam Skattebo went down with a brutal dislocated ankle and fibula fracture. Their losses immediately took the wind out of the offense's sails.
That's why it's no surprise their statuses have been a huge shadow hanging over Giants fans' heads.
But new head coach John Harbaugh just gave Big Blue fans the exact training camp update they were looking for during a recent appearance on The Domonique Foxworth Show:
"Skatt will be ready early on in camp and Malik will be working his way into practice as camp gets started one way or another. There's a lot of optimism around both of those guys right now. I feel really good about their respective paths. I don't want to make any guarantees, but I think you'll see a lot of those guys this season. Skatt is further ahead based on the type of injury, but Malik is not far behind. He's in a good place right now."
Two words: Let's. Go.
Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo would be the Giants’ biggest training camp wins
Talk about exactly what the doctor ordered for an offense desperate to hit the ground running. I can't oversell how awesome it is that both players could be participating in training camp. Obviously, due to the respective severity of their injuries, their activity levels will be different, but seeing them out there in any capacity is a huge win for a team that needs one.
Harby's update this time around is much more encouraging than his previous updates. It's about time.
Nabers is the offensive chess piece who commands an extra set of eyes on every snap. Skatt provides the tone-setting, run-it-down-your-throat presence Harbs needs to fully unleash his sorry-not-sorry rushing attack.
When they aren't on the field, the offense loses its way fast. The unit regresses into a predictable, one-dimensional group that struggles to stay on the field.
Skatt was an absolute tear with seven touchdowns in his first eight games, using an unhinged and unparalleled running style to wear down opposing defenses.
Nabers is integral to the passing game if it's to ever become something special. The attention put on him opens up opportunities for the rest of the group. If this team is going to dig itself out of the basement, it needs both of these guys operating at peak performance.
Fans should see them strap on the pads soon, as the G-Men are scheduled to report to training camp on July 28. The team will pack up and head to The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, hosting six practices from July 30 through August 7 as they look to get back to Giants football.
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