Malik Nabers’ readiness to compete will be the key issue for the New York Giants as the 2026 NFL season draws near. The third-year player from LSU is gearing up for a return after suffering an ACL injury in Week 4 of the previous season.
But while Nabers’ recovery is vital to the team’s success, a former NFL quarterback raised concerns about the Giants’ glaring weakness on offense.
Chris Simms Worried About the Giants’ WR Depth Chart After Malik Nabers
Simms, an NFL analyst for NBC Sports who once played eight seasons in the league, voiced his concerns about the Giants’ receiving corps during the August 18 episode of Pro Football Talk.
Speaking to co-host Mike Florio, the son of two-time Super Bowl champion Phil Simms said, “If there’s one thing I could look at, I’m a little concerned with, or is a little flawed, is playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. Tight ends sound like they’ve been good, Isaiah Likely. But (their) receivers without Malik Nabers, it gets a little bit underwhelming.”
Nabers had a strong rookie season, finishing with 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and 7 touchdowns.
That first season earned him an 82.8 grade and the No. 8 spot in PFN’s WR Impact rankings.
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Unfortunately, during their home game against the Los Angeles Chargers last September, Nabers landed awkwardly after trying to catch a pass. While the Giants won the game, a subsequent MRI confirmed that he suffered a torn right ACL. It’s the first major injury that Nabers has experienced in his career.
But Simms does make a valid point. Though the Giants’ Week 1 roster hasn’t been finalized, Florio speculated how their wideout rotation might unfold.
After Simms’ take, Florio mentioned Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, and Calvin Austin III as the team’s potential starting receivers. Slayton has been with the Giants since 2019 but has never had a 1,000-yard season. Meanwhile, Austin has 1,100 total receiving yards in his last three seasons.
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The Giants’ current third-string receivers are rookie Malachi Fields, the inconsistent Darnell Mooney, and Braxton Berrios, who is more of a return specialist. Odell Beckham Jr. is also on the squad, but his best days are behind him.
As Simms added, “He (Nabers) is hugely important to them because I do think he’s one of the only guys who can really make plays on a regular basis.”
Nabers Fired Up to Be Playing Again
After nearly a year of being sidelined, Nabers participated in team drills. He even caught a pass during the 7-on-7 scrimmage.
After the practice session, he could not hold back his happiness.
“My soul has been dead for so long just being away from the game,” Nabers told reporters after practice. “Just getting out there and having my teammates behind me kind of felt that soul come back to life out there.”
Malik Nabers wore a non-contact red jersey throughout the session. But with his recovery on schedule, he could be torching opponents while wearing the Giants’ colors.
