The New York Giants recorded their first victory of the 2025 season last week as they beat the Los Angeles Chargers at home. However, they also suffered a tough loss.
2024 Pro Bowl wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a tear in his ACL in his right knee during the second quarter, which ended his season and created a big hole in the Giants’ offense.
How Did Malik Nabers Get Injured?
The injury happened on what seemed like a routine play. Nabers was tracking a deep ball from rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart down the right sideline when his right knee buckled as he jumped for the catch. He landed hard and immediately grabbed his knee in visible pain.
Unfortunately thinking ACL+MCL involvement for Malik Nabers. pic.twitter.com/g3cgltELOR
— Jake Pulis, PT, DPT (@FantasyInjuryPT) September 28, 2025
The entire Giants team rushed onto the field to check on their star receiver. Medical staff attended to Nabers, who was in intense pain. He was carted off the field with a towel over his head, though he waved to the fans as he left.
An MRI on Monday confirmed the worst fears: a torn ACL in the right knee. Reports also revealed Nabers suffered a partially torn meniscus, though this is common with ACL injuries and won’t delay his recovery. The Giants placed him on season-ending injured reserve immediately.
Head coach Brian Daboll addressed the media with a somber tone. “He’s one of our better players, I think one of the better players at his position in the league,” Daboll said. “It’s obviously a tough loss for our football team, but we’ll regroup and we’ll get the guys ready to play that are here”.
When Will Malik Nabers Return?
An ACL tear takes around 9-12 months to recover. After sustaining the injury in late September, Nabers will likely be healthy for the opening of the 2026 season. He’ll likely have surgery in a week or two.
Will his explosive speed and athleticism return immediately, or will that develop over time? Some players, like Saquon Barkley in 2021, needed time to get fully back in action.
Impact on the Giants’ Offense
Losing Nabers is a crushing blow for the Giants. He had 271 receiving yards and two touchdowns through four games and was leading the team in targets with 35.
For Jaxson Dart, losing his top target changes everything. The quarterback was building chemistry with Nabers, and now he must rely on other receivers to step up.
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Wan’Dale Robinson, who ranks second in targets and receiving yards, becomes the new WR1. Darius Slayton will see an expanded role, while Jalin Hyatt gets a chance to prove himself after struggling in his first two seasons.
So far this season, the Giants have registered an Offensive Impact Score of 61.2 — a D-. Without Nabers in the lineup, the unit suffers a massive blow, even with the spark from new starter Jaxson Dart.
