New York Giants receiver Malik Nabers’ lingering knee injury remains arguably the team’s most significant on-field storyline.
When Nabers returns, it’s fair to assume he’ll need time to fully resemble himself again.
The Athletic’s Dan Duggan doesn’t expect Nabers to do much waiting, though.
In a mailbag published Friday, Duggan projected that Nabers will lead the Giants in receiving.
That’s despite the fact that Nabers remains questionable for the start of training camp, let alone Week 1.
Duggan also said he believes veteran Darius Slayton will place second. Slayton is recovering from offseason sports hernia surgery.
Dan Duggan is placing overly high expectations on Malik Nabers
Even with a new offensive staff, Nabers shouldn’t need to worry about his touches when he’s healthy.
With that said, his eventual return doesn’t guarantee another standout season — and that’s no criticism of him at all.
The Giants overhauled their receiver room this offseason, signing Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin. New York also used a third-round pick on Notre Dame standout Malachi Fields.
Odell Beckham Jr. remains linked to the Giants, and we have separately proposed the team target Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte.
Former Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, who spent his first four seasons with John Harbaugh, is expected to play a massive role in the passing game.
The thought of Nabers potentially debuting in Week 5 and still leading the Giants in receiving feels like a pipe dream.
If that were to happen, that would mean the rest of the Giants’ receiving game was dreadful at best.
Duggan also sounds incredibly down on Mooney and Austin, both of whom signed one-year contracts in March.
Who will lead the Giants in receiving if it’s not Malik Nabers?
By default, you might be tempted to answer Slayton, even with him missing training camp.
However, Slayton’s tendency for drops, coupled with a new head coach, raises questions about how long his leash will be.
If you’re looking for a dark horse candidate, look no further than Likely.
Harbaugh and Matt Nagy love their tight ends, having frequently made Mark Andrews and Travis Kelce the focal point of their passing game.
Likely and Harbaugh already have a connection, and the veteran coach has spent the offseason raving about the fifth-year tight end.
Mark Bavaro, who had 1,001 yards in 1986, is the only Giants tight end with a 1,000-yard season.
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