New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen declined to guarantee wide receiver Malik Nabers will be available for the 2026 season opener as training camp gets underway.
Nabers tore the ACL and meniscus in his right knee during Week 4 of the 2025 season against the Los Angeles Chargers. He underwent reconstructive surgery later that fall and required a follow-up procedure earlier this year to remove scar tissue that had caused stiffness in the joint.
The injury was described by team officials as more complex than a standard ACL tear, contributing to a cautious recovery timeline throughout the offseason.
Schoen offered a measured update on the star receiver’s progress during his Wednesday press conference.
“We’ve got a really good plan for him. The medical staff has a really good plan for him,” he told reporters. “So, we’re going to listen to the patient. We’ll see how he reacts. We’ve got a good plan in place. As long as everything goes as planned, we’ll listen to Malik and his body, and hopefully he’ll be ready. We’ll see how it plays out. No predictions right now just because we have a long way to go still.”
Schoen confirmed Nabers has progressed to running, cutting, sprinting and working in individual drills.
“He’ll be out here,” Schoen added. “He’s been doing individual drills.”
The remarks soften the more optimistic outlook Schoen shared in June, when he indicated he believed Nabers would be fine for Week 1.
The Giants will continue monitoring Nabers’ response closely as camp unfolds and will adjust his workload based on how his body reacts in the coming weeks.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants’ Joe Schoen softens stance on Malik Nabers’ Week 1 availability
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dan Benton, Giants Wire | USA TODAY Network
