NY Giants fans are placing a huge chunk of their belief in a resurgent 2024 offense on the back of rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers. The LSU star has spent the better part of camp validating the hype around him, constantly ending up on the receiving end of Daniel Jones or Drew Lock deep balls.
While the Giants didn't look Nabers' way very often in their preseason debut against the Detroit Lions, that will likely not be a sign that he is struggling to adjust to the NFL. The half-dozen touchdowns he's been on the receiving end of in training camp show how talented he is.
Giants fans went into a collective state of panic when Nabers had to leave practice early on Sunday. The Giants themselves didn't seem overly concerned about this injury, as they calmed down a very stressed fanbase by implying Nabers will be back on the field fairly soon.
The belief around the Giants is that Nabers suffered a minor ankle sprain. While this might not be anything that keeps him out of action during the beginning of the regular season, he may need to take a few days off in camp. It's better to be cautious with Nabers, especially with a lower-body injury.
There is a belief it’s a minor ankle sprain for Malik Nabers. https://t.co/t7mHqGMzyW
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) August 11, 2024
NY Giants rookie Malik Nabers suffers minor ankle sprain in practice
Nabers has flashed the speed and downfield playmaking that turned him from a promising LSU receiver into one of the best prospects at the position in years. Had it not been for a generational prospect in Marvin Harrison Jr, Nabers would have been the first receiver off the board.
The Giants are placing an emphasis on youth and speed with their wide receiver room. 2023 third-rounder Jalin Hyatt, who slid in the draft due to concerns about his route-running, will start alongside Nabers and 2022 second-round slot dynamo Wan'Dale Robinson.
That trio could be effective, but Nabers is the difference-maker. While getting through the preseason injury-free would have been the ideal scenario for this fanbase, Nabers getting a fairly encouraging health update from the team is exactly what they wanted to hear.