Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers continues to make strides in his recovery as he works toward being available for Week 1 against the Cowboys.
The third-year wide receiver, who tore his right ACL and meniscus in Week 4 against the Chargers last season, did not participate in any of the team’s offseason activities.
Nabers reportedly got a second surgery on his right knee sometime in the spring.
On Wednesday, the Giants began training camp in West Virginia, and Nabers practiced with the team.
On Thursday, the 23-year-old discussed how it felt to get back on the field.
“It felt good,” he said. “I mean, I might not show it, I like to be a person that you never know my facial expressions. I’m always just smooth and calm, but it felt good to be out there with the guys, get a couple of throws, just moving around. I haven’t moved around in a long time; running routes felt good out there.”
At this point, Nabers is not putting a timetable on his return.
“Like I said, no target dates,” he said. “Just continue to listen to the training staff. They continue to ask me questions, and when I’m ready, I’m ready.”
Despite posting 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie, Nabers called that season “basic” and believes his best football is still ahead of him.
“I got extreme confidence in myself,” he said. “I’m not going to put myself in any spot that I feel like I’m not going to be better than what I was before. So, I don’t see myself being what I was before. What I was before, what you all saw my rookie year, I felt like that was basic. I got high standards for myself. I know everybody has high standards for me also. But the standard that I hold myself to is very high. I feel like whatever that standard that I hold myself to, you’ll see or sooner or later?”
As he prepares for the upcoming season, Nabers, who starred at LSU, will have another former LSU star to learn from, three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham, and Nabers spoke about his relationship with Beckham.
“Just a great role model, a great leader that we put in the room,” Nabers said. “He’s had a few injuries in the past. He had the same injury as me. So, just talking through with him on just how he handled that and what was his rehab process and the things that he did to help himself come back. Just keeping him in the corner, he’s always feeding me good energy. So, it’s good having him around. He’s always lifting me up. He’ll always continue to call me, ask me how I feel, send me text messages, just motivation. So, just having him around has been great.”
The Giants know their offense is at its best with Nabers on the field. With no need to rush their franchise receiver, expect the team to take a cautious approach as he continues working toward a return.
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