Malik Nabers took another significant step toward returning to the New York Giants on Monday, and reporters watching practice immediately recognized what it could mean for Week 1.
NFL World Tracks Malik Nabers’ Latest Recovery Step
The third-year receiver shed the red non-contact jersey and worked in both 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 periods as he continues recovering from the torn ACL and meniscus he suffered last season. The Giants open the season on Sept. 13 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Connor Hughes reported that Nabers was not a full participant, but called the work “a step in right direction.” Hughes also noted that Nabers made a diving catch on an intermediate route in his report.
Another step for Malik Nabers and the #Giants: He shed the red jersey and took part in 7-on-7 & 11-on-11. He wasn’t full (worked in for reps), but a step in right direction.
He made a nice grab diving back for the ball on an intermediate route/curl.
The Giants were without… pic.twitter.com/BY1GLJBORM
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) August 24, 2026
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan called it “the next step in Malik Nabers’ rehab.” He reported that Nabers logged three reps in 11-on-11 and three more in 7-on-7, including an impressive catch near the turf in his post.
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Raanan added that the Giants star “continues to track for Week 1 vs Cowboys,” an encouraging sign after Nabers sat out last week’s joint practices with Miami.
The next step in Malik Nabers’ rehab: shedding the red no-contact jersey. Nabers had three reps in 11-on-11 and three in 7-on-7 drills. Made a really nice catch when he went down and plucked a pass off the turf.
The Giants star WR continues to track for Week 1 vs Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/aP3mxxsXvD
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) August 24, 2026
Art Stapleton also highlighted the absence of the red jersey, while noting that it “looked like Nabers was being overly deliberate with his cuts, in and out of breaks on air.” He also revealed that the wideout “caught two passes in 3/4 speed team drills, opened up in space.”
Dan Duggan described the change as “another step forward.” He reported three live 7-on-7 reps and three 11-on-11 reps as New York continued increasing Nabers’ workload in his report.
Malik Nabers did his 1st practice in a regular jersey today. He caught passes from Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston and Brandon Allen, including a leaping catch of a low Allen throw on a curl that showed some explosion from the wideout. A key step for No. 1 eyeing Week 1 👀… pic.twitter.com/ALHfYNZlhJ
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) August 24, 2026
Pat Leonard called Monday “a key step for No. 1 eyeing Week 1.”
“Malik Nabers did his 1st practice in a regular jersey today,” Leonard wrote on X. “He caught passes from Jaxson Dart, Jameis Winston and Brandon Allen, including a leaping catch of a low Allen throw on a curl that showed some explosion from the wideout. A key step for No. 1 eyeing Week 1.”
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Giants’ head coach John Harbaugh also confirmed that “it’s reasonable to assume that” Nabers will play in the season opener against the Cowboys, barring any late setbacks.
The takeaway was encouraging without suggesting that the rehabilitation is complete. Nabers is back in regular practice attire, but the Giants are still controlling his volume.
Giants Continue Building Malik Nabers Toward Week 1
Nabers has been climbing through checkpoints throughout August. He returned to team drills in a red non-contact jersey last week after beginning camp mostly with individual work.
Head coach John Harbaugh said Nabers eventually needed to experience contact before being cleared for game action. On Sunday, Harbaugh said shedding the red jersey was possible this week but was “not a necessity” because New York still had time before the opener.
Monday checked that box sooner than expected.
Nabers played only four games in 2025 before the season-ending knee injury, finishing with 18 receptions for 271 yards and 2 touchdowns. As a rookie, he caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards and 7 scores.
According to PFN’s WR Impact Metric, he posted an impact score of 82.7, ranking eighth at his position in 2024.
The Giants still have another important step ahead before anyone can call Nabers fully back. For now, a regular jersey and live team reps are exactly the progress New York wanted to see.
