Aw, man. MetLife hadn't been buzzing like that in a minute. The New York Giants finally had some juice, Jaxson Dart was making his first career start, and for the first time in forever, it felt like something good was coming. Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed.
On what should’ve been a free play in the first half, Jaxson Dart took a shot downfield to Malik Nabers. But as soon as Nabers went up for the ball, his right leg gave out. He reached for his knee before he even hit the ground, and the cart came out right after. Everyone in the building knew it wasn’t good... and now it’s official.
Related: Kayvon Thibodeaux was everyone finding out Malik Nabers likely tore his ACL
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, testing confirmed that Nabers tore his ACL. He’ll miss the remainder of the 2025 season. It’s a crushing blow for an offense that was finally starting to find its footing, that's for sure. That’s gone now. And it completely changes the outlook for this team.
NEWS: Testing reveals that Malik Nabers did tear his ACL, sources say. The Giants’ worst fears are confirmed as they lose their star receiver for the rest of the season. pic.twitter.com/hLqcwyLhfm
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) September 29, 2025
Giants’ Malik Nabers injury changes everything for Brian Daboll and Jaxson Dart
It’s not just a blow to the wide receiver room. This is a massive gut punch for the whole operation. Head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen were hoping this year could be a turning point — the start of something built around a potential franchise quarterback.
Instead, Dart’s development instantly takes a hit, the offense loses its most dynamic playmaker, and the Giants are left scrambling for options.
Plenty of names will get tossed around. Odell Beckham Jr. always seems to come up in times like these. Gabe Davis would be relatively intriguing if he weren’t stuck on the Bills’ practice squad IR. The most likely move is Isaiah Hodgins, who’s currently on the Steelers’ practice squad and familiar with the system.
But none of them are Malik Nabers.
The second-year wideout was becoming a legitimate superstar. The Pro Bowl receiver finishes 2025 with 18 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns. The best-case scenario is that he’s ready for 2026. Now, the Giants have to figure things out on the fly with their rookie signal-caller.
There’s still time to find momentum. But for now, it’s a brutal setback for a team that was finally moving in the right direction.