Latest Malik Nabers Injury Update Is Good News For Week 1 Availability

The biggest transaction the New York Giants have made ahead of training camp might actually be the one they did not make.

Third-year wide receiver Malik Nabers has manage to avoid placement on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list ahead of training camp. New York placed three players on the list – tight end Thomas Fidone II, defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris and defensive lineman Sam Roberts – but notably left Nabers off of it.

Nabers, 22, missed all but four games in his second season in the NFL after tearing his ACL in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The young wideout was coming off of a Pro Bowl rookie season, and his injury in 2025 was a major blow to a Giants offense that was just starting to find its footing under then-rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.

The fact that the Giants did not need to put Nabers on the PUP list is a very positive sign for his recovery from the torn ACL. As New York ramps up its preseason preparation in West Virginia starting on July 28, Nabers will be among training camp participants as he works back up to full speed. Barring any setbacks, the young wideout may be in line to play during the first four weeks of the season.

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Malik Nabers injury update

The Giants opted not to put Nabers on the PUP list before the start of their training camp on July 28. That sets the young receiver up to be a participant in some of New York's late summer practices, albeit likely in a limited capacity to start.

Nabers will not miss any additional time with the team as he works his way back from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 4 last year. Reports from ESPN's Jordan Raanan indicate that the Giants believe the former No. 6 overall pick could be back in time for New York's Week 1 clash with the Dallas Cowboys on "Sunday Night Football."

New York Giants WR depth chart

• Malik Nabers
• Darius Slayton
• Darnell Mooney
• Calvin Austin III
• Malachi Fields
• JuJu Smith-Schuster
• Odell Beckham Jr.
• Isaiah Hodgins
• Braxton Berrios

Nabers is a lock for a starting spot among the Giants' wide receiver corps if he's healthy. The rest of spots in the starting trio, as well as a few roster spots, may be up for grabs after New York lost 2025 top receiver Wan'Dale Robinson in free agency.

Malachi Fields, the Giants' third-round pick this year, could be competing for a spot in the starting offense in Year 1. Long-time Big Blue receiver Darius Slayton is also likely to slide back into a spot in the top three of New York's receivers. Veterans Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin round out some of the additional depth the Giants added in free agency this offseason.

Behind the latter two, Odell Beckham Jr. is back to compete for a roster spot after one year removed from the NFL – and eight years removed from his first Giants stint. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Isaiah Hodgins and Braxton Berrios will compete with Beckham for one of New York's final receiver spots on their 53-man roster.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Latest Malik Nabers injury update is good news for Week 1 availability