Circle August 17 on your calendar. Following the preseason opener versus the Vikings, that Monday marks the initial practice session. Malik Nabers, the receiver, can earliest join the 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 practice periods on this date. This step is huge for his road back to playing in Week 1. He cut his workload on Wednesday as part of his rehab from last season’s torn ACL.
Harbaugh sees progress ahead
Head coach John Harbaugh spoke about the timeline with reporters. He noted the team plans to ramp Nabers up soon. “We’re looking towards soon ramping him up into some group periods and perhaps some team periods,” Harbaugh said. The coach added that the next big window might be the following week. “Maybe next week. We’ll see. He’s doing great. He’s working hard. Spirits are high.”
The Giants have built a plan around his return. The team released its unofficial depth chart, and Nabers is listed as one of the only two starting wide receivers. Darius Slayton is the other. Odell Beckham Jr. sits as a third-teamer. This shows the team trusts Nabers to lead the group once he is cleared.
He’s the cornerstone of the passing attack.
Big questions on the roster
While Nabers heals, the team faces other choices. The Giants did not sign controversial corner Terrion Arnold despite a visit. He is a 23-year-old player facing serious felony charges. Harbaugh said the team wants to find any player who can help them win. “He’s a player that can help us,” Harbaugh said. But the legal risks remain high. If he signs, the NFL could put him on the commissioner’s exempt list.
Harbaugh admitted the front office handles the heavy lifting on these tough calls. He trusts them to do a great job. “That’s something that the organization has studied very deeply,” Harbaugh said. The team previously cut DeAndre Baker after an armed robbery charge. Now they must weigh the risk against the reward for Arnold. The door is not closed, but it is not wide open either.
Quarterback evaluation continues
The focus also shifts to the new offense. Will quarterback Jaxson Dart play Saturday against the Vikings? Harbaugh dodged the question with a smile. “That’s a good direct question I’m going to have to dodge,” Harbaugh quipped. He promised to let fans know later. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said the “prep side” of preseason games is key. He wants to see if Dart can read the defense.
Nagy explained the goal is to fix mistakes fast. “If there’s one or two plays where he might not be seeing it well,” Nagy said, “let’s figure out why you’re not.” The Giants listed Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux as co-starters on the edge. They also named Paulson Adebo as a starting cornerback ahead of Deonte Banks. Every position battle matters as the season gets closer.
The clock is ticking on the first game.
