Giants Training Camp Notes: Observations On Malik Nabers, Jaxson Dart, And Plenty More

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — The first week of Giants training camp is over. Well, the first stretch of practices leading into their first day off is over. Players are free to do whatever they like — within reason — Sunday at The Greenbrier before returning in pads Monday.

Here are a few takeaways and notes after four workouts.

Malik Nabers is back

There was no bigger positive at the start of Giants camp than seeing Nabers on the field Wednesday and Thursday, then again Saturday. The Giants gave him a scheduled day off Friday — part of the plan. Trainers want to push him, pull him back, gauge how his body reacts and then throw even more at him.

Nabers took part in individual drills. He looked solid. He still appears to favor his surgically repaired knee slightly, and his acceleration is not quite where it was before the injury. Both are expected. Nabers is running routes, cutting, bursting and sprinting.

He showed no tentativeness while working through the ladder portion of practice, flashing wildly impressive footwork.

There have been varying degrees of pessimism surrounding Nabers’ rehabilitation in the ensuing months, along with questions about whether he would return for the start of the season. With the opener against Dallas six weeks away and Nabers already on the field, it is hard — barring a setback — not to envision him suiting up to open the 2026 season. He might be on a snap count, but even a limited Nabers would be a good thing for the Giants.

As Jaxson Dart said Wednesday, Nabers has an “aura” and is someone “everyone” must locate whenever he is on the field.

What else do the Giants have at wideout?

This has been among the more alarming developments early in camp. With Nabers sitting out team drills, few receivers have stepped up to fill the void. Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin form the first rotation at receiver, followed by Odell Beckham Jr., Malachi Fields and Braxton Berrios.

Fields began working more with the starters by week’s end. He made a 50-yard catch on the first play of Saturday’s practice. Berrios, who has picked apart the soft spots in the second-team defense’s zone, is the lone player consistently making plays, though.

Nabers’ return will absolutely help the group — he draws attention, which frees up others — but you would still like to see someone, anyone, step up. That has not happened. Among the first group, Slayton made one impressive grab on a deep crosser Friday. Mooney put together a nice stretch of catches during 7-on-7 drills Thursday.

That is about it.

This is worth monitoring as receivers on other teams become available in trades. The Giants love Dart. They believe he is a franchise quarterback. They must surround him with as much talent as possible to maximize and accelerate his development. They should aggressively pursue another receiver if the right one becomes available.

What’s Odell Beckham Jr. up to?

Beckham drew the loudest reaction of camp with a toe-tapping touchdown catch at the ack of the end zone Saturday. He shook free for an 18-yard score on a pass from Jameis Winston. It was good to see because he had been quiet until then. Quarterbacks simply have not thrown his way.

Media members are not allowed to record practice, and we do not have access to All-22 film or instant replay. It is difficult to tell whether Beckham is open and not getting targeted or the play design simply is not going his way.

This also is his first training camp after sitting out last season and most of the previous one. Some rust is inevitable. He needs to get going, though, if he wants to make the team.

Buy your Isaiah Likely stock

Likely is more of a utility weapon than a traditional tight end. The Giants move him throughout the formation, and he has displayed clear early chemistry with Dart. Likely attacks all three levels of the defense, and the Giants appear intent on featuring him.

You hope a receiver steps up. In the meantime, Likely appears to be the No. 2 option behind Nabers.

The offensive line as a whole

I have covered training camp every year since 2014. The running game always looks the same. Backs head into the line, get slapped on the helmet or shoulder by 10 different defenders and keep running downfield. It is usually difficult to tell how things are coming together until the preseason begins.

That has not entirely been the case at Giants camp. The line has blocked several runs perfectly each day. You see Cam Skattebo or Tyrone Tracy get five or six yards downfield untouched — uncommon, at least in the camp practices I have covered.

Granted, most of the teams I covered were not very good.

Your lead back is ...

As for that running game, it is clear Skattebo is the top back. Tracy and Devin Singletary are the preferred options in passing situations, but Skattebo is first up in almost every running drill and receives the majority of the carries throughout practice.

Last year, especially early, there was closer to a 50-45-5 split among Skattebo, Tracy and Singletary. That is not the case now. Skattebo said earlier this week that it is no secret Harbaugh wants to run the ball. He is excited to chase the 300-carry, 2,000-yard rushing season he discussed at the team’s town hall.

QB1 in Year 2

It has not been a great start to the summer for Dart. He looked great in the first practice, completing 11 of 16 passes, but has completed 26 of 51 (51 percent) since then. That latter total includes an 8-for-9 team period in a drive-the-field situation. The defense was playing prevent to protect an 11-point lead, and Dart dinked and dunked his way to a field goal.

Noteworthy, but nothing to panic about yet.

Dart is learning a brand-new offense that is very different from Brian Daboll’s. He also is working without Nabers. As Dart becomes more comfortable and gets his No. 1 wideout back, his play should improve significantly.

It has not been all bad. Dart made a stunning throw to Mooney, placing it perfectly between two defenders. His 50-yard pass to Fields was another that could not have been placed any better. At the moment, the offense is simply struggling with consistency.

Abdul Carter’s improvement

One reason the offense has struggled is Carter. He routinely has been in the backfield, pressuring Dart and generally making life miserable for the offense. There is a real confidence and swagger to him this year, backed by his declaration that his goal is to be “Defensive Player of the Year.”

The Giants will likely move Carter throughout the formation once the games begin, but for now, he is rushing exclusively against Andrew Thomas. That has created some entertaining battles. It also makes Carter’s disruption even more noteworthy. Thomas is among the best offensive linemen in the NFL. Beating him is no small task.

The players put on pads Monday. That will be the real test. Defenders usually are at an advantage when players are in shorts.

Quick hits and tidbits

- There is no bigger star at camp right now than Berrios. He is everywhere on the field and has caught everything thrown his way. Most of those catches have come on short and intermediate routes — normal for a slot receiver — but he caught a long touchdown pass from Winston on the first day.

- There were quite a few interceptions during 11-on-11 periods over the first three days. No one player has dominated, but Dennard Wilson’s defense has gotten its hands on the ball. Tremaine Edmunds, Paulson Adebo, Darius Alexander, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Micah McFadden all have interceptions. Colton Hood also had a pick-six, but it was nullified by a questionable offside penalty.

- Theo Johnson is a frustrating player to watch. He has ridiculous talent and makes incredible plays, then drops the easiest passes. He had drops in each of the first three practices while also making a handful of impressive grabs down the

seam. The Giants could have a formidable 1-2 punch at tight end if he improves his concentration.

- It is wild how many plays the Giants run. Truly crazy. Rep after rep after rep. After wrapping up individual drills, they do nothing but 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 work. I have never seen a camp quite like this. As Harbaugh said earlier this week: They’re not practicing. They’re preparing for the game.