They say don't let Monday ruin your Sunday, but today, Monday is a sundae -- and Malik Nabers' latest injury update is the cherry on top.
During Monday’s practice, the New York Giants wideout ditched the red non-contact jersey, signaling another step forward in his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered in Week 4 of last season. According to Giants insider Dan Duggan, Nabers got three reps in a 7-on-7 period, along with three more in 11-on-11s.
The 23-year-old caught a pass over the middle from backup quarterback Brandon Allen, but couldn’t haul in a high crosser from Jaxson Dart. In 11s, Leek made an acrobatic diving catch on a curl from Allen and also snagged an out from Jameis Winston and a quick out from Dart.
Head coach John Harbaugh wouldn't commit to a return, but said "it's reasonable to assume" he'll be good to go when speaking with the media after practice.
Suddenly, there’s more reason than ever to believe Nabers will be out there for Week 1. And that couldn’t be closer to the best-case scenario for the Giants and their fans if it tried.
Malik Nabers just took his biggest step toward a Week 1 return
The journey back to the field has been an emotional rollercoaster for Nabers. Initial optimism deflated in early spring when reports came out suggesting his recovery had hit a major roadblock.
Nabers required a second surgery to clear out scar tissue that was causing stiffness, leading to plenty of concern and whispers that he might miss a major chunk of the upcoming season.
However, Leek silenced the skeptics by showing good movement in early training camp drills, steadily ramping up his workload until he was participating in full-speed individual work. That progress finally led to Monday’s triumphant appearance with no red jersey in sight.
It's impossible to overstate what the wideout means to the passing game. Without him on the field, the Giants' offense has looked lost. He brings a rare, gravity-pulling presence that changes everything the second he puts on the helmet.
His potential return drastically raises the ceiling for second-year franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart, giving the young signal-caller an alpha target who can make this offense truly dangerous.
When healthy, Leek is an absolute game-changer. He rewrote the franchise rookie books with 109 receptions and 1,204 yards in 2024 and was on pace for an even bigger sophomore year with 271 yards in three-plus games.
New York will undoubtedly monitor his early workload, but his ceiling remains as high as ever as the team's de facto WR1.
There are still a few hurdles left before Nabers officially gets the green light for Week 1. But ditching the red jersey and getting back into team drills is about as encouraging a late-August update as Big Blue Nation could have asked for.
Not a bad cherry on top of a Monday after all.
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